In a significant stride towards fostering global cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday afternoon in Lima, Peru. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, bringing together the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.
President Xi highlighted the journey of China-U.S. relations over the past four years, acknowledging the ups and downs but emphasizing the sustained dialogue and cooperation between the two nations. “Under the stewardship of the two presidents, the two teams have worked out through consultations a number of guiding principles for China-U.S. relations,” President Xi stated. He noted that more than 20 communication mechanisms have been restarted or established, yielding positive achievements in areas such as diplomacy, security, economy, trade, finance, military, counter-narcotics, law enforcement, agriculture, climate change, and people-to-people exchanges.
Reflecting on the experiences of the past years, President Xi underscored several key principles for advancing China-U.S. relations:
- Correct Strategic Perception: Avoiding a new Cold War and recognizing that containment of China is unwise, unacceptable, and bound to fail.
- Consistency of Words and Actions: Honoring commitments and building trust through credible actions.
- Mutual Respect and Equality: Neither nation should seek to remodel the other or suppress its legitimate right to development.
- Respect for Red Lines: Understanding and not challenging each other’s core interests, particularly regarding issues like the Taiwan question.
- Enhancing Dialogue and Cooperation: Expanding mutual interests and achieving win-win outcomes through collaboration in various fields.
- Meeting People’s Expectations: Advancing the well-being of both peoples by facilitating exchanges and removing obstacles.
- Shouldering Responsibilities: Acting in ways that contribute to global peace and unity, and refraining from coercing other countries into taking sides.
“Humanity is faced with unprecedented challenges in this turbulent world,” President Xi remarked. He stressed that major-country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times and called for solidarity and cooperation to overcome global difficulties. He emphasized that a stable China-U.S. relationship is critical not only to both nations but also to the entire world.
President Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship with the United States, expressing readiness to engage in dialogue, expand cooperation, and manage differences to sustain momentum toward stability.
The discussions also covered significant issues including the Taiwan question, economic and trade ties, science and technology, cybersecurity, the South China Sea, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula. President Xi highlighted the importance of respecting China’s sovereignty and core interests in these matters.
President Biden acknowledged the significance of the U.S.-China relationship, stating that it is crucial not just for the two nations but for the future of the world. He emphasized that competition should not veer into conflict and noted the progress made in rebuilding channels of communication over the past four years. President Biden expressed the United States’ commitment to the one-China policy and its readiness to enhance communication and responsibly manage differences during the transition period.
The two presidents reiterated their commitment to the guiding principles for China-U.S. relations, including treating each other with respect, maintaining open lines of communication, preventing conflict, and cooperating in areas of shared interest. They agreed to uphold these principles to stabilize relations and ensure a smooth transition.
Both leaders spoke positively about the progress in dialogue and cooperation on areas such as counter-narcotics, climate change, artificial intelligence, and people-to-people exchanges since their last meeting. They affirmed the need to enhance international cooperation and promote the beneficial use of AI, stressing the importance of maintaining human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons.
The meeting was described as candid, profound, and constructive, with both presidents expressing willingness to stay in contact. The meeting was attended by Cai Qi and Wang Yi.
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President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Lima
cgtn.com
