HOUSTON, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Policymakers, business people and scholars from the United States and China should work together to build a stronger relationship, a U.S. public policy expert said.

Attending a reception on Saturday evening celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, David Firestein, inaugural executive director of the China Public Policy Center in the University of Texas at Austin, said, "This is exactly the moment when all of us need to do everything that we can to build stronger ties between the United States and China."

According to Firestein, who also serves as president and CEO of George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, there are opportunities ahead for community leaders of both countries to promote a healthier U.S.-China relationship.

"We face challenges that are in some way unprecedented, but we also have opportunities that are unprecedented. With the leadership of the organizations that are here today, we can make a positive difference in this relationship," he continued.

Neil Bush, son of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, told Xinhua that he believed people-to-people exchanges between the two countries can make a change.

"Cultural exchanges, student exchanges ... Anytime that an American can know on personal basis of Chinese culture and Chinese individual or friends, their attitude of China immediately changes. So it's very crucial," he said.

The celebration was cohosted by George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, US China Innovation Alliance (UCIA) and local marketing company Z LAB Global. Professionals from various industries and global markets celebrated with an evening of festivities, networking and traditional Chinese performance.