President Xi: China, U.S. should be source of stability for world peace

Published: August 30,2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, August 29, 2024. /Xinhua

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 driving force for common development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

President Xi made the remarks during a meeting with visiting U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi pointed out that in this changing and turbulent world, countries need solidarity and coordination, not division or confrontation, adding that people want openness and progress, not exclusion or regression.

He said when the two major countries engage with each other, the priority is to establish a correct strategic perception and, first and foremost, find a good answer to the overarching question of whether China and the United States are rivals or partners. 

China’s foreign policy is open and transparent, and its strategic intentions are aboveboard, both of which have been highly consistent and stable, Xi noted.

He said 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 suits China’s national conditions.

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

Noting that China’s U.S. policy is highly consistent, Xi said while significant changes have taken place in the two countries and China-U.S. relations, China’s commitment to the goal of stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relations remains unchanged and that China’s principle of handling China-U.S. relations based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation remains unchanged.

Xi said China’s position 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 people remain unchanged.

The Chinese president expressed the hope that the United States will work in the same direction with China, view China and its development in a positive and rational light and see each other’s development as an opportunity rather than a challenge.

He also expressed hope that the United States will work with China to find the right way for the two countries, with different civilizations, systems and paths, to coexist in peace, 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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) meets with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, August 29, 2024. /Xinhua

Conveying the regards of President Biden to President Xi and thanking President Xi for meeting him, Sullivan said that since the San Francisco summit meeting between the two presidents, the two sides have earnestly implemented their common understanding and achieved positive progress.

Noting that this round of strategic communication in China was in-depth, candid, substantive and constructive, he reiterated that the United States does not seek a new Cold War nor to change China’s system.

The revitalization of U.S. alliances is not against China, he said, adding that the United States does not support “Taiwan independence” nor seek conflict with China.

He said the one-China policy has not changed for the U.S. and that it has no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China.

Sullivan said the United States hopes to maintain strategic communication with China and find a way for the two countries to coexist in peace and for U.S.-China relations to develop in a sustainable way.

He said President Biden looks forward to communicating with President Xi again soon.

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

cgtn.com