These essays discuss the role of values in Sino-American relations, including the Taiwan issue and human rights. Values are very important to great nations such as China and the United States, because they provide a foundation on which their divergent populations define their culture and build society. Leader and citizen alike use values to help make difficult decisions in complex situations. Values often differ in some respects, depending on historical experiences and emphasis on different aspects of human character. However, civilizations can learn from one another and, over time, agreement on a set of common values can assist statesmen to resolve national differences peacefully.