-Both leaders held candid, in-depth and extensive exchanges over phone call
BEIJING: President Xi Jinping spoke over phone with the United States President Joe Biden on Friday morning, and they conducted candid, in-depth and extensive strategic communication and exchanges on China-US ties and relevant issues of common concern to both sides.
Xi first expressed sympathy to Biden and the American people over the casualties and property losses caused by Hurricane Ida, and Biden voiced appreciation. Xi pointed out that for a period of time, the China policy adopted by the US has led bilateral ties to serious difficulties, which is not in line with the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries and the common interests of all countries in the world. China is the largest developing country and the US is the largest developed countries in the world, he said.
Whether the two countries can properly handle their relations or not has a bearing on the future and destiny of the world, and this is a question of the century to which the two countries must provide a good answer, he added. Both countries and the world will benefit from China-US cooperation and will suffer from confrontation, Xi said. Getting the relationship right is not optional, but something both countries must do and must do well, Xi said.
During the call, Xi quoted a classic ancient Chinese poetry: “Mountains and rivers may block the way, yet another village will appear amidst willow trees and blooming flowers.”
Since the two countries broke the ice of their relations in 1971, China and the US have worked together to bring tangible benefits to all countries, Xi said.
Currently, the international community is faced with many common problems, and China and the US should manifest a broad vision and a great sense of duty, keep looking ahead and moving forward, carry out strategic courage and political resolve, take their relations back to the track of a stable development as soon as possible and better benefit the people of the two countries and the rest countries in the world, Xi said.
Xi elaborated on China’s position on issues including climate change. He underscored that China has remained true to prioritizing ecological conservation and its green, low-carbon path to development, and it has been earnestly undertaking international duties that suit its own national conditions.
On the basis of respecting each other’s core concerns and properly managing differences, the relevant departments of the two countries may continue their engagement and dialogue, and advance coordination and cooperation, Xi said.
Their collaboration may cover climate change, COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, economic recovery and major international and regional issues, and they could tap more potential for cooperation and add more positive factors to bilateral relations, Xi added.
Biden said the world is changing fast, the US-China relationship is the most consequential relationship in the world, and the future of the bulk of the world will depend on how the US and China get on with each other.
The two countries have no interest in letting competition veer into conflict, and the US side has no intention to change the one-China policy, Biden said.
The US is prepared to have more candid exchanges and constructive discussions with China to identify key and priority areas where cooperation is possible, avoid miscommunication, miscalculation and unintended conflict, and get US-China relations back on track, he added.
The US side looks forward to more discussions and cooperation with China to reach more common positions on climate change and other important issues, he said.
During the phone call, the two sides agreed that in-depth communication between the two heads of state on China-US relations and major international issues is very important for steering the bilateral ties in the right direction. Both sides agreed to maintain frequent contact by multiple means and instruct officials at the working level to intensify the work, conduct extensive dialogue and create conditions for the further development of China-US relations.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
