China and the US have different positions on the Syria situation, but they share many common interests too, including restoring peace and stability in the region, cracking down on extremists and rebuilding regional order and the balance of power in the Middle East. The countries differ over how to achieve these goals.

If the US should abandon or violate the Iranian nuclear accord, an agreement reached after years of negotiation and with consent of European allies, the results would only be negative for the US in terms of its international image, moral high ground and Trump’s start on diplomatic front. Such a move would signal to the world that the US cannot be trusted.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-nation tour in the Middle East heralds a shift from U.S. regime change to economic development, codifying China’s presence in the Middle East as a major energy buyer, major importer, infrastructure builder, and peace broker.

Mutual trust has been slow to evolve on the political front, but that continues to be key for any meaningful deal.

While the entire international community can certainly cooperate better on security issues, criticizing Beijing’s low-profile role is merely propaganda defaming China in the region. China’s economic contribution to the region is both significant and more than sufficient within the current global and regional context defined by US dominance.

It is in the interests of China and the United States, as well as the region and the world beyond, to have peace, stability and development in the Gulf and the Middle East. Washington’s recent summit with Gulf states reflects both the challenges and its enduring commitment to security concerns there.

Wu Sike writes that stability in Egypt will hinge on finding a proper solution to the many issues plaguing the region, and that China-U.S. cooperation can help to bring about peace and stability in the Middle East.

Should the United States modify its view of terrorism in China in order to further counterterrorism efforts and the possibility of future cooperation with Beijing? He Wenping lays out China’s concerns and how they may be addressed to encourage increased bilateral relations.

Washington has launched still another “war against terror” in the Middle East and beyond. It is the kind of escalation that the Islamic State has hoped. In contrast, Beijing is likely to stick to cautious engagement.

If ISIS turns out to be a major threat to US national security, it’s reasonable to believe that the rise of China will become less of a problem for America. As for what it means for China and the US rebalance toward Asia, it still remains to be seen how effective Obama’s strategy against the Islamic State will be, writes Wang Wenfeng.