NEW YORK -- There might be some changes in Washington's China policy, but the relations between the two countries are positive in a long term, said a US expert on China on Wednesday.

The election of Donald Trump as new president is going to lead to some changes in US policy toward China, said Stephen A. Orlins, president of the National Committee on US-China Relations.

"I believe in a long term, and look at the horizon, I am optimistic about US-China relations," he told representatives of US students who had studied in China.

Orlins forecast a debate about US-China relations in the next several months, or even several years. He urged those US students who had lived and studied in China to participate in the debate, as they could help Americans who have never gone to China better understand China.