Non-governmental dialogue has never been cut off. Manuel Menendez, a veteran American businessman said that China's new energy industry is gaining momentum, Sino-U.S. cooperation is a win-win, while the upcoming U.S. election will bring uncertainty to the relationship.

Liu Xin: How profitable has the China market been for you? And what kind of specific benefits has investing in China brought to your consumers?

Manuel Menendez: I think that the market has been very, very fruitful. I think you have to pick the right areas. Right now, I'm concentrating on environmental technologies and new energy architecture. And China has great know-how when it comes to photovoltaic (PV) and hydrogen production. I think there's a mutually beneficial areas of cooperation that we can work on. So I keep coming because there's a market here. There are niches in the market that you can address and do well. And I continue to do that. And I want to make sure both countries continue to work together, so you have to, again, come and be here and participate.

Liu Xin: The United States will be going into another election cycle. And that is often worrying because relations with China or trade with China could be used in a uber-simplistic way to attract votes. Are you potentially concerned about that?

Manuel Menendez: Yes, I am definitely concerned there will be tremendous rhetoric. And I would say to the Chinese public: just be prepared for it. Because right now, we're in the presidential hunting season, and China is in the crosshairs of everyone because they have to show to the American people that they'll be tough on U.S.-China relations. But I think there's the reality of primaries where people are fighting to get their primary nomination. And then after presidents get into power, typically I think things get more calmer and normalize. The next 18 months is going to be, I think, a rocky road for a lot of rhetoric on U.S.-China relations. That's going to definitely happen.