China and the U.S. agreeing to the phase-one trade deal showed the “spirit of modus vivendi,” a commitment that should be carried into future negotiations, according to the Communist Party’s flagship English newspaper.

While details of the pact are not public yet, the agreement in itself is an encouraging sign, and it signals that the two countries are able to narrow their divergence and reach an understanding if they conduct discussions on an equal footing, the newspaper said in an editorial Thursday evening.

The two countries should stick to such a spirit in their future negotiations to ensure “an atmosphere conducive to accommodation and progress,” even though the bargaining can be protracted, it said.

China’s Vice Premier and top trade negotiator Liu He will lead a high-level delegation to Washington next week to sign the first phase of the trade deal with the U.S. The two sides are also finalizing some long-running corporate deals ahead of the high-profile ceremony.