Competing visions, one with the UN as its spiritual center and the US counterview with itself at the heart of a unipolar world, are vying to shape the world’s future. The US remains the sole superpower in the world, but its attempt to remain the driving force in global governance is doomed to fail in a changing, multipolar world.

The Xi-Obama meetings have demonstrated that China and the US can be frank and open with each other when addressing difficult issues. The result could be a new order in a multipolar world that better accommodates the needs and desires of the entire globe.

The gravest threat to American global leadership is neither Russia nor China but continued interest group-driven Congressional abandonment of the kind of balanced strategy that won the Cold War.

President Xi Jinping will visit the United States in September, partaking in a high stakes, scripted, state dinner with President Obama and other dignitaries at the White House. The Chinese leader will be in the neighborhood for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

Whether the world’s nations can adjust to changes and to work with instead of working against the new arrivals on the world stage is going to be a major test. China has chosen to integrate itself into the international order, and has greatly benefited from being part of it, so China should be seen as a partner, not a competitor.

The US pursues increasingly aggressive strategies against Russia, partly because it perceives Russia’s national power as too diminished to wage a meaningful fight, and now it has to face the music. Washington must cool things off by abandoning confrontation.

Events commemorating the 70th anniversary of victory will be opportunities for China to demonstrate its determination to safeguard peace and promote development in the world, unswervingly pursue peaceful development and strengthen mutual trust with wartime allies, including the US.

The media and public opinion have become the new focuses of major-power competition, as the US struggles to maintain a supreme position in the current world order.

"Issue-specific partnership, instead of alliance" may become an outstanding feature of the three countries relations in the future, but their varying relationships challenge their ability to work together to meet global problems and coordinate global governance.

Mutual trust is essential for candid exchanges and sincere collaboration. This is an indispensable precondition for China and the U.S. to formulate a new-type major-country relationship and take advantage of historical opportunities such as President Xi’s upcoming U.S. visit.