Chinese President, US National Security Advisor discuss bilateral relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Jake Sullivan, the United States President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to discuss bilateral relations.

President Xi pointed out that in this “changing and turbulent” world, countries needed solidarity and coordination, not division or confrontation, the Chinese foreign office said.

“People want openness and progress, not exclusion or regress. China and the United States, as two major countries, 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.

President Xi stressed that when China and the United States, two major countries, were engaging with each other, the No.1 issue was to develop the right strategic perception.

“And they need to first and foremost find a good answer to the overarching question: Are China and the United States 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. 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 realising 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”, the Chinese President noted.

President Xi pointed out that China’s US policy was “highly consistent”.

“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, its principle in handling the relationship based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation remains unchanged, its 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”, he said.

President Xi expressed the hope that the United States would 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 civilisations, systems and paths, to coexist in peace and achieve common development on this planet, and work to maintain the stability of China-US relations and, on that basis, improve and take forward the relationship.

President added that relationship remained unchanged, it was principle in handling the relationship based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation remained unchanged, its 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.

Sullivan conveyed the regards of President Biden to President Xi, and thanked President Xi for meeting him.

He said that since the San Francisco summit meeting between the two presidents, the two sides had “earnestly” implemented their common understandings and achieved positive progress.

Sullivan reiterated that the United States was not seeking a new Cold War, it was not seeking to change China’s system.

The official also stressed that the United States did not support “Taiwan independence,” and it was not seeking conflict with China, and further pointed out that the one-China policy of the United States had not changed, and it had no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China.

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