A community with a shared future for mankind is a toplevel design in Chinas diplomatic strategic thought system, and a key concept to consider when US academia examines and assesses China's diplomacy. Ever since 2013, American scholars have published works to interpret such a diplomatic concept. They argue that a community of shared future for mankind constitutes the core concept in China's diplomacy in the new era. Such a concept was born due to China's rising power, and it reflects China's strategic desire to build a new international order. Practices of the diplomatic concept involve promoting neighbourhood diplomacy, building economic community and participating in global governance. Realism, idealism and security community theories are three dominant theories used by American scholars to examine the idea, which gives rise to different policy prescriptions. China should further strengthen the influence and penetration of this diplomatic idea, use Track Two and unofficial mechanisms to deepen cooperation and communication with the United States, dispel the misunderstanding and prejudices of US scholars with a targeted approach, and explore new paths of Sino-American cooperation.