Xi-Obama summit: A good start

Obviously, the cyber espionage issue was addressed in the summit but we know little of what was said or agreed except that it will be an important component of future session of the high level Strategic and Economic Dialogues. The fact that this issue has begun to be discussed leader to leader is significant in and of itself.

Now that Edward Snowden has leaked its details, the entire issue will necessarily have to be seen through the prism of Prism. Before Prism was out, the US had at least a patina of moral respectability and its indignation over alleged Chinese cyber-sleuthing seemed to me to ring true. Now that the US has ceded the moral high ground, both sides are on the same level and should get down to problem-solving.

President Obama reportedly made a distinction between spying related to issues of state versus commercial spying and tried to convince President Xi that it is in China's own economic interest not to engage in commercial spying. I find it hard to separate one from the other as there is so much overlap between the two. Perhaps both sides can find a way.

The history of hacking has been without exception that clever people will always find and exploit a technical (or human) vulnerability. The best we can hope for is mutually agreed upon line-drawing, detection systems, and a paradigm for addressing such breaches. President Ronald Reagan's "trust, but verify" maxim comes to mind.

I am not sure if our two countries will always be best friends. I am confident, however, that in the many areas where our respective national interests overlap, that we can be the best of partners.

The talks are a good beginning to an on-going dialogue. Ignorance breeds contempt. Familiarity and open channels can foster good communication and good relations.

During the meeting, President Xi extended an invitation for President Obama to visit China. And let's hope that this time Obama brings not only Michelle, but Malia and Sasha for the best international relations and culture-bridging lessons of their young lives.

The author is a senior adviser to Tsinghua University and former director and vice-president of ABC Television in New York.