On Jan 1, 1979, China and the United States issued their joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations. Since then the general trend has been for their ties to be strengthened.

There have been dips, of course; some deeper than others. Given their different social systems, cultures and development stages, it would be a marriage made in heaven if there were no misunderstandings, affronts or quarrels.

But over the past 40 years, they have got to know one another better and found ways to put their disagreements behind them. While it is imaginable that China and the US could sever all their ties, it is doubtful either side really wants to, despite appearances.

Which is why both sides have exchanged views on pushing forward the timetable and road map for the next stage of their trade consultations, with a view to ending their current spat.

Vice-Premier Liu He spoke with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer by telephone on Tuesday morning Beijing time to put flesh on the bones of the consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina at the beginning of the month.

Both leaders agreed then that bilateral relations should develop in a coordinated, cooperative and steady manner. Their discarding of the zero-sum mentality that can plague international relations laid the foundation for the efforts to push ties away from unnecessary confrontation.

It is understandable that China wants to defend the multilateral trading system, without which China would not have achieved what it has. It should also be understandable that China will adhere to socialism with Chinese characteristics, which has been the guarantee for China's development.

It is also important that US politicians look at the reality of China rather than slotting it into a pigeonhole from the past.

Likewise, it is understandable that the US does not want to give up that to which it has become accustomed.

Both countries should have learned enough lessons from the ups and downs of their relations over the past four decades to know that both benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation. There are no winners if China and the US are antagonistic, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a forum on Tuesday.

Perhaps over its festive season, those in Washington with an axe to grind against China can take time to reflect impartially on the changes that have taken place in the world over the past 40 years.

It would be good if the New Year were to herald an upturn in relations and even brighter prospects for the future as the two sides build on their leaders' consensus.