Positioning itself as a world-class research institute, the center will work to establish a theoretical framework for a new model of bilateral ties.

It will also look into ways of implementing this while promoting the establishment of related interest groups to further its cause.

As the balance of power between China and United States is in a state of flux, their relationship is said to be entering a new historical period.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of reassessing their ties and finding a more compatible working relationship to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and further afield.

Wu Xinbo, Vice Deans of Fudan Development Institute,executive dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan, described the "new normal" in bilateral ties as having three main characteristics: Rising differences and friction, larger-scale cooperation, and China taking more of a leading role.

Wu will serve as the executive director of the new center.

The facility has also been tasked with accelerating research into the two sides' strategic security relationship, trade ties and other pressing concerns.

It will carry out cooperative research with Harvard University, the Brookings Institution, the US Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) , Carter Center and other international research facilities.

Moreover, a group of databases will be built including one on Sino-US regional trade and another on financial comparative research. Other databases will touch on subjects like Sino-US global cooperation and US Congressional research.

The center is being set up with the support of some of China's most prestigious institutes of higher learning including Peking University, Renmin University of China and the Academy of Military Sciences PLA China. The acronym PLA stands for the People's Liberation Army.

China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) and the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences also participated in the establishment of the collaborative center.

(China Daily USA 05/15/2015 page7)