HONG KONG, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The relationship between the United States and China has been growing despite potential friction over trade and other issues, said Clark T. Randt Jr., former U.S. ambassador to China, at a lecture in Hong Kong on Friday.

Randt said the potential trade friction, which should not be surprising given the dire economic situation and the upcoming mid- term elections in the United States, was more likely to come from the Congress rather than the administration.

Randt, who had been U.S. ambassador to China from July 2001 to January 2009, said it was not surprising that the two countries should have disagreements given the differences in history, culture and the values.

"But the important thing is to keep in mind ... the awareness on both sides of the very important strategic interests we share," he added.

The leaders in both Washington and Beijing understand that the two countries share strategic interests on many topics, Randt said, adding that he was "sure that the United States policy towards China has not changed."

"More and more Americans are trying to know China, though the Chinese people still know the United States better than the Americans know China. There are currently 11,000 to 12,000 Americans studying in Beijing," he said.