Participants in a conference held by the University of Southern California U.S.-China Institute discussed how mutual misconception might prevent the two countries from closer cooperation.

The conference, called "Through Tinted Lenses," addressed issuessuch as how China and the United States perceive each other and how mutual misperception affect policy-making decisions and influence countries’ government, businesses and individuals. The conference was attended by scholars, students, entrepreneurs and journalists held November 1-2, 2013.

According to the conference organizers, recent polls suggest that a slight majority of Americans believe that the values of Chinese and Americans are so drastically different that “cooperation to address international problems is impossible.”

The polls on the Chinese side show their concern that the U.S. appears to be blocking the Chinese political and economical growth.

Still, two countries share enormous amount of mutual interest. In the 2011-2012 academic year, 194,029 Chinese students enrolled in the U.S. colleges, according to the Institute of International Education. More than a million visas were processed last year for visitors who planned to travel to the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of State. 

Every day, seven thousand Americans travel to Asia for tourism, business and work, according to the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries’ report.

Still, a survey conducted by Japanese organization and China Daily showed that over 90 percent of the public holding some kind of negative image of each other, according to Zheng Wang one of the speakers and professor at the Seton Hall University.

The contact between two countries might significantly improve mutual understanding and increase misperception, some participants argued.   

“I’ve done more research on American side and Americans who said they have more Chinese friends, who traveled to China were more likely to know more about China [had] decreased prejudice against Chinese,” said Peter Hays Gries, a professor at the University of Oklahoma. “They are liking Chinese people more but end disliking Chinese government even more.”

A professor explained why prejudices existed.

“Instead of changing people’s misperception, it’s convenient to allow those misperceptions,” said Xu Wu, a professor at the Arizona State University. “It’s probably not for the government to do anything, to promote and fill the gap. As fas as people get together and do business together, the things will get better.” 

Reach reporter Olga Grigoryants here.