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Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with U.S. Vice President Biden
2011-08-18 08:02

On the morning of August 18, 2011, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping held talks with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden at the Great Hall of the People. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern. They both stressed that China and the U.S. have broader common interests and shoulder more important common responsibilities in the new situation. Further strengthening cooperation is the common aspiration of the people in the two countries and around the world. The two countries need to make concerted efforts to push forward China-U.S. partnership.

Xi Jinping said 40 years ago the leaders of the older generation push forward the big ball of China-U.S. relations with the magic small ball (table tennis), which opened a historical chapter for the improvement and development of China-U.S. relations. In January, 2011, President Hu Jintao paid a successful visit to the U.S., taking China-U.S. relations to a new stage of partnership featuring mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. In a complex and fast-changing world, cooperation is the only right choice. China always attaches great importance to China-U.S. relations and is willing to make joint efforts with the United States to constantly grow China-U.S. partnership.

Biden expressed his admirations for China's long history as well as China's contributions to the world. He congratulated China on the great achievements since the reform and opening up. He said that the American people have a friendship with the Chinese people. The United States welcomes China's continued steady growth and is committed to working closely with China to establish a vibrant and lasting relationship. History will prove that it is the right choice of the United States and China to establish such a relationship.

Xi Jinping put forward a four-point proposal on further developing China-U.S. partnership. First, to firmly grasp the general direction of China-U.S. partnership. Despite of the differences in historical backgrounds, social systems, and levels of development, the two countries have more common interests than differences. Peace will benefit both, while confrontation will harm both. Both sides need to look at the development of each other from an objective and rational perspective, correctly judge each other's strategic intents and continuously enhance strategic mutual trust. The two countries need to give full play to the leading role of high-level exchanges in enhancing strategic mutual trust. The two countries need to continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation and ensure the success of bilateral meetings between state leaders at multilateral occasions including the Group of Twenty (G20), APEC, and East Asia Summit. The two sides need to further leverage and develop the existing mechanisms such as China-U.S Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE), and Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) and new platforms such as strategic security dialogue and the consultation on Asia-Pacific affairs. In the spirit of respect, mutual trust, reciprocity and mutual benefit, the two sides need to continue to expand military exchanges and cooperation. The two sides need to promote the exchanges between political parties, local exchanges and civil exchanges and give full play to their roles in increasing trust and advancing cooperation. Second, to deepen all-round and mutually beneficial economic partnership. The turmoil of international financial market has intensified recently. The global economy is facing serious challenges. China and the U.S., as the world's two largest economies, have the responsibility to strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policies and jointly boost market confidence. The two countries have the responsibility to improve global economic governance through G20 and other mechanisms and promote the steady recovery of the world economy. China and the U.S. are both transforming modes of economic development and restructuring the economy, which provides the two countries with a rare opportunity for cooperation. Third, to respect each other's core interests. It is the key to the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations. The Chinese people cherish the development path and political systems of their own choice and cherish national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taiwan and Tibet issues concern China's core interests and are matters involving national feelings of 1.3 billion Chinese people. Therefore they must be carefully and properly dealt with so as to protect China-U.S. relations from being interfered and damaged. Fourth, to further strengthen China-U.S global partnership. China is willing to continue cooperation with the United States to deal with various global and regional challenges. China is willing to maintain and strengthen communication and coordination with the United States and jointly play a responsible and constructive role as great powers. The two sides should strengthen dialogue and cooperation on Asia-Pacific affairs so that the two countries can have benign interactions on Asia-Pacific affairs and enjoy mutual benefit and win-win results in this respect.

Biden expressed his agreement with Xi's views on the further development of bilateral relations. He said the strategic mutual trust is the key to the lasting and stable development of U.S.-China relations. The two sides should increase engagements, enhance mutual understanding, consolidate strategic mutual trust, and avoid strategic misjudgment. Biden said the U.S.-China cooperation is very important for the stability of world economy. The United States welcomes China's continued economic growth. The U.S. is willing to work together with China to ensure the stable growth of world economy. Biden reiterated that the U.S. side fully understands that Taiwan and Tibet issues are China's core interests, the U.S. will continue to resolutely pursue the one China policy, the U.S. does not support "Taiwan's independence", and the U.S. fully recognizes that Tibet is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China. He said the United States is willing to strengthen cooperation with China and properly handle regional hotspots and global issues so as to promote regional and global peace and stability.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Joe Biden at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Vice Chairman of NPC Standing Committee Chen Changzhi, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Tung Chee-hwa, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of Finance Xie Xuren, China's Ambassador to the U.S. Zhang Yesui and other Chinese officials also attended the welcoming ceremony.

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