Xi tells Biden: China, U.S. should keep exploring ways for two major countries to coexist

Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Joe Biden that China and U.S. should keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other, during their meeting in Lima on the afternoon of November 16 local time.

Xi said he is pleased to meet with President Biden again. China-U.S. relations over the past four years have gone through ups and downs. But under the joint stewardship of the two presidents, the two sides have been engaged in fruitful dialogue and cooperation and their relationship has remained stable on the whole, said Xi.

Xi pointed out that the trajectory of China-U.S. relations has proved the validity of these experiences and inspirations from the past 45 years of diplomatic ties.

"When the two countries treat each other as partner and friend, seek common ground while shelving differences and help each other succeed, their relationship would make considerable progress. But if they take each other as rival or adversary, pursue vicious competition and seek to hurt each other, they would roil the relationship or even set it back," Xi stressed.

Noting humanity is faced with unprecedented challenges in this turbulent world suffering from frequent conflicts, where old problems are compounded by new ones, Xi said major-country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times. 

"Only solidarity and cooperation can help humanity overcome current difficulties," the Chinese president stressed.

"In an age of a new round of flourishing sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, neither decoupling nor supply-chain disruption is the solution; only mutually beneficial cooperation can lead to common development," Xi also said.

He told Biden that "small yard, high fences" is not what a major country should pursue, saying that only openness and sharing can advance the well-being of humanity.

As two major countries, China and the United States should bear in mind the interests of the whole world, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the turbulent world, Xi added.

President Xi underscored his consistent belief that a stable China-U.S. relationship, which is the world's most important bilateral relationship, is critical not only to the interests of the Chinese and American peoples but also to the future and destiny of the entire humanity.

Xi urged the two sides to bear in mind the well-being of the two peoples and the common interests of the international community, make the wise choice, keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other, and realize the long-term, peaceful coexistence on this planet.

Referring to the recent U.S. election, Xi stressed that China's goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship remains unchanged and China's commitment to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as principles for handling China-U.S. relations remains unchanged.

"China's position of resolutely safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests remains unchanged," he reiterated.

Xi also told Biden that China's desire to carry forward the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American peoples remains unchanged.

"China is ready to work with the U.S. government to maintain dialogue, expand cooperation and manage differences, so as to strive for a steady transition of the China-U.S. relationship for the benefit of the two peoples," Xi said.