On February 14 local time, visiting Vice President Xi Jinping attended the welcome luncheon co-hosted by US Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton.
Addressing the event, Xi said that China-US relations have become one of the most important, vigorous and potential bilateral relations in the world today. In January last year, President Hu Jintao visited the US and reached key consensus with President Obama on jointly building the China-US cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, specifying the direction of the long-term development of bilateral relations.
He held meeting and talks with President Obama and Vice President Biden in the White House in the morning, said Xi. They exchanged in-depth views on China-US relations and major issues of common concern. They both believe that the two sides should hold onto the common interests and blaze a trail of partnership featured by harmonious coexistence, healthy interactions and win-win cooperation among major powers. As the current international economic and financial situation is still severe, the two countries should continue to help each other to overcome difficulties, speed up building of the all-round mutually beneficial economic partnership and maintain stable economic recovery and growth in both countries and in the world. China and US should further tap cooperation potential, develop bright points of cooperation and promote a more balanced development of bilateral trade and investment. They should handle each other's economic and trade concerns through dialogue and consultations instead of protectionism and try to safeguard the basic pattern of mutually beneficial and win-win economic and trade cooperation.
Xi noted that it is normal for China and the US to have differences on some regional and international issues and on the issue of human rights and the key is to properly handle differences in the principle of mutual respect, sincere communications and non interference into each other's internal affairs. He believes the two sides have the wisdom, ability and resources to maintain and develop the bilateral partnership and open a successful path of building partnership between countries with different political systems, historical and cultural background and economic development levels.
Biden and Clinton highlighted the significance of Xi's visit which was paid on the memorable occasion of the 40th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China. The US and China took a historic step 40 years ago, which changed the overall bilateral relations and brought enormous benefits to both countries and the world at large. The cooperation between the US and China is the indispensable factor to solve the current challenges faced by the world and has an important influence on the development of the world in the 21st century. The US is willing to work together with China to strengthen communications, enhance mutual trust and further push forward the US-China partnership.