Xi Jinping meets with US national security adviser

(Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi stressed that in a changing and turbulent world, countries need solidarity and coordination, not division or confrontation. People want opening up and progress, not exclusion or regression. As two major countries, China and the United States should be responsible to history, the people and the world, and should be a source of stability for world peace and a booster for common development.

Xi stressed that when China and the United States, two major countries, engage with each other, the number one issue is to develop a correct strategic perception, and they must first find a correct answer to the most important question: Are China and the United States rivals or partners?

China’s foreign policy is open and transparent, and its strategic intentions are clear, both of which are highly consistent and stable, Xi said, adding that China focuses on properly handling its own affairs and will continue to deepen reform in an all-round manner, so as to further improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics that suits its national conditions.

China follows a path of peaceful development. While realizing its own development, China is also willing to work with other countries for common development and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

Xi stressed that China’s policy toward the United States is highly consistent. While great changes have taken place in the two countries and in China-U.S. relations, China’s commitment to the goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship remains unchanged, the principle of managing the relationship on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation remains unchanged, its stance of firmly safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests remains unchanged, and its efforts to carry forward the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American peoples remains unchanged, Xi said.

Xi expressed the hope that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, view China and its development from a positive and rational perspective, see each other’s development as an opportunity rather than a challenge, and work with China to find the right path 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, as well as work to maintain the stability of China-U.S. relations and, on this basis, improve and advance bilateral relations.

For his part, Sullivan conveyed President Joe Biden’s greetings to President Xi and thanked Xi for meeting with him. He said that since the San Francisco meeting between the two presidents, the two sides have earnestly implemented their common agreements and made positive progress. This round of strategic communication in China has been in-depth, frank, substantive and constructive.

He reiterated that the United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not seek to change the Chinese system, the revitalization of U.S. alliances is not directed against China, the United States does not support “Taiwan independence,” and does not seek conflict with China. The U.S. one-China policy has not changed, and it has no intention of using Taiwan as a tool to contain China.

The United States hopes to maintain strategic communication with China, and find a way for the United States and China to coexist in peace and for U.S.-China relations to develop sustainably. President Biden hopes to communicate with President Xi again in the near future, Sullivan added.

Xi asked Sullivan to convey his greetings to Biden, and said he stands ready to stay in touch with Biden to guide and direct the development of China-U.S. relations.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.

(Xinhua/Yin Bogu)