Says countries need solidarity and coordination, not division or confrontation

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Great Hall of the People in China on Thursday.

Xi pointed out that in this changing and turbulent world, countries need solidarity and coordination, not division or confrontation. The Chinese leader added that people want openness and progress, not exclusion or regress.

He stressed that as two major countries, China and the United States should be responsible for history, for the people and for the world, and should be a source of stability for world peace and a propeller for common development.

Xi said that when China and the United States engage with each other, the number one issue is to develop a right strategic perception. He said they need to first and foremost find a good answer to the overarching question: Are China and the US rivals or partners?

The Chinese president said his country’s foreign policy is open and transparent and its strategic intentions are aboveboard, both of which have been highly consistent and stable. Xi added that China is focused on managing its own affairs well and will continue deepening reform comprehensively to further improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics that suit its national conditions.

He noted that China follows a path of peaceful development.

While realizing its own development, Xi said, China is also ready to work with other countries for common development and to jointly build a community with a “shared future for mankind”.

Xi pointed out that China’s US policy is highly consistent. He stressed that while great changes have taken place in the two countries and in China-US relations, China’s commitment to the goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-US relationship remains unchanged.

Xi said its principle in handling the relationship based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation remains unchanged. He said China’s position of firmly safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests remains unchanged, as well as its efforts to carry forward the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American people.

Xi expressed hope in the following:

• that the United States will work in the same direction with China,
• view China and its development in a positive and rational light
• see each other’s development as an opportunity rather than a challenge
• work with China to find a right way for China and the United States —two countries with different civilizations, systems and paths — to coexist in peace and achieve common development on this planet and work to maintain the stability of China-U.S. relations and, on that basis, improve and take forward the relationship.

For his part, Sullivan conveyed the regards of President Joe Biden to Xi. He thanked President Xi for meeting him and said that since the San Francisco summit meeting between the two presidents, the two sides have earnestly implemented their common understandings and achieved positive progress.

Sullivan said this round of strategic communication in China was “in-depth, candid, substantive and constructive”.

Sullivan reiterated the following:

• that the US does not seek a new Cold War
• it does not seek to change China’s system
• the revitalisation of US alliances is not against China
• the United States does not support “Taiwan independence”
• it does not seek conflict with China
• The one-China policy of the United States has not changed,
• the US has no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China

He said the US hopes to maintain strategic communication with China and find a way for both countries to coexist in peace, and for US-China relations to develop in a sustainable way.

Sullivan said Biden looks forward to having communication again with Xi soon.

Xi asked Sullivan to pass on his regards to Biden, and expressed readiness to stay in touch with Biden to guide and steer the development of China-US relations.

China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi attended the meeting.