Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden held a meeting in Bali

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xueren

On the afternoon of November 14, local time, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with US President Biden in Bali, Indonesia. The two heads of state had a frank and in-depth exchange of views on strategic issues in China-US relations, as well as major global and regional issues.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the current situation facing Sino-US relations is not in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, nor does it meet the expectations of the international community. China and the United States need to adopt an attitude of responsibility to history, the world and the people, explore the correct way for the two countries to get along in the new era, find the correct direction for the development of bilateral relations, and promote China-US relations to return to the track of healthy and stable development, so as to benefit the two countries and the world.

Xi Jinping introduced the main situation and important achievements of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, pointing out that the internal and external policies of the Chinese Party and government are open and transparent, their strategic intentions are open and aboveboard, and they maintain a high degree of continuity and stability. We comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization, continue to take the realization of the people's yearning for a better life as the starting point, unswervingly carry out reform and opening up, and promote the construction of an open world economy. China continues to firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, always decides its position and attitude based on the merits of the matter itself, advocates dialogue and consultation, peaceful settlement of disputes, deepens and expands global partnerships, and safeguards the international system with the United Nations at its core and international law Based on the international order, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China will adhere to peaceful development, open development, and win-win development, and will be a participant and promoter of global development to achieve common development with other countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the world is at a major historical turning point. Countries need to face unprecedented challenges and seize unprecedented opportunities. We should view and handle Sino-US relations from this perspective. Sino-US relations should not be a zero-sum game in which you lose and I win, and you rise and fall. The success of China and the United States is an opportunity rather than a challenge for each other. The vast earth fully accommodates the respective development and common prosperity of China and the United States. The two sides should take a correct view of each other's internal and external policies and strategic intentions, and establish a tone of dialogue rather than confrontation, win-win rather than zero-sum exchanges. I attach great importance to Mr. President's statement on "four nos and one unintentional". China never seeks to change the existing international order, does not interfere in the internal affairs of the United States, and has no intention of challenging and replacing the United States. The two sides should adhere to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and jointly ensure that China-US relations move forward on the right course, without deviation, stall, or collision. Complying with the basic norms governing international relations and the three Sino-US joint communiqués is the key for the two sides to manage and control conflicts and differences, and prevent confrontation and conflict. It is also the most important protection and safety net for Sino-US relations.

Xi Jinping systematically expounded on the origin of the Taiwan issue and China's principled position. Xi Jinping emphasized that the Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests, the foundation of the political foundation of Sino-US relations, and the first insurmountable red line in Sino-US relations. The resolution of the Taiwan issue is a matter for the Chinese themselves and is China's internal affair. It is the common aspiration of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation to safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of the motherland. Anyone who wants to separate Taiwan from China is against China's national justice, and the Chinese people will never agree! We hope to see and remain committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. It is hoped that the US will match its words with its deeds and abide by the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiqués. Mr. President has said many times that he does not support "Taiwan independence" and has no intention of using Taiwan as a tool to seek a competitive advantage over China or to contain China. It is hoped that the US side will implement Mr. President's promise.

Xi Jinping pointed out that freedom, democracy and human rights are the common pursuit of mankind and the consistent pursuit of the Communist Party of China. The United States has American-style democracy, and China has Chinese-style democracy, both of which are in line with their respective national conditions. We are also proud that the whole process of people's democracy in China is based on China's national conditions, history and culture, and reflects the will of the people. It is impossible for any country's democratic system to be perfect, and it needs continuous development and improvement. Specific differences between the two parties can be discussed, provided that they communicate on an equal footing. The so-called "democracy against authority" is not a feature of today's world, let alone conform to the trend of the times.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the United States is pursuing capitalism, while China is pursuing socialism, and the two sides are taking different paths. This difference is not unique today, and will continue to exist in the future. The leadership of the Communist Party of China and the endorsement and support of China's socialist system by the 1.4 billion people are the fundamental guarantee for China's development and stability. One of the most important things for China and the United States to get along is to recognize and respect this difference, instead of imposing uniformity and trying to change or even subvert the other party's system. The US side should reflect its commitments in concrete actions instead of saying one thing and doing another.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and the United States are two big countries with different history, culture, social systems and development paths, and there are differences and differences between the past and the present, and there will be in the future, but this should not become an obstacle to the development of Sino-US relations. There is competition in the world at any time, but competition should be to learn from each other, catch up with me, and make progress together, not if you lose and I win, and you die and I live. China has a glorious tradition of unremitting self-improvement, and all suppression and containment will only stimulate the will and enthusiasm of the Chinese people. Fighting trade wars and science and technology wars, artificially "building walls and building barriers" and forcibly promoting "decoupling and breaking chains" completely violate the principles of market economy and undermine international trade rules, which will only harm others and benefit themselves. We oppose politicizing and weaponizing economic, trade, and scientific and technological exchanges. Under the current situation, the common interests of China and the United States have not decreased, but increased. China and the United States do not conflict, do not confrontation and coexist peacefully, which is the most basic common interest of the two countries. China and the United States are deeply integrated economically, facing new development tasks, and need to benefit from each other's development, which is also a common interest. The post-pandemic recovery of the global economy, addressing climate change, and resolving regional hotspot issues are also inseparable from the coordination and cooperation between China and the United States, which is still a common interest. The two sides should respect each other, benefit each other, focus on the overall situation, and provide a good atmosphere and stable relationship for bilateral cooperation.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yan Yan

Biden said that I have known President Xi Jinping for many years and maintained regular communication, but in no way can it replace face-to-face meetings. Congratulations on your re-election as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. As two major powers, the United States and China have a responsibility to maintain a constructive relationship. The United States is committed to keeping channels of communication open at all levels between the two heads of state and government, conducting frank dialogue on issues where the two sides disagree, and playing a key role in strengthening necessary cooperation on important global challenges such as climate change and food security. This is vital to the United States, China and their peoples, and important to the entire world. I would like to reiterate that a stable and developing China is in the interests of the United States and the world. The United States respects China's system, does not seek to change China's system, does not seek a "new cold war", does not seek to oppose China by strengthening its alliance relationship, does not support "Taiwan independence", does not support "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan", and has no intention of conflict with China. The United States also has no intention of seeking "decoupling" from China, obstructing China's economic development, or encircling China.

Biden said that how the US-China relationship develops is crucial to the future direction of the world. The United States and China have a shared responsibility to show the world that the United States and China can manage differences and avoid and prevent miscalculations or fierce competition from turning into confrontation or even conflict. The United States agrees that the principles guiding the U.S.-China relationship should be established, and the teams of the two sides can continue to talk on the basis of the existing consensus and strive to reach an agreement as soon as possible. The US Government pursues a one-China policy, does not seek to use the Taiwan issue as a tool to contain China, and hopes to see peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The two heads of state agreed that the diplomatic teams of the two sides will maintain strategic communication and conduct regular consultations. It was agreed that the financial teams of the two countries would conduct dialogue and coordination on macroeconomic policies, economy and trade. Agreed to work together to promote the success of the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The two sides agreed on dialogue and cooperation on public health, agriculture and food security between the two countries. It was agreed to make good use of the Sino-US Joint Working Group to promote the resolution of more specific issues. We agreed that people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States are very important and encourage the expansion of people-to-people exchanges in various fields between the two countries.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on issues such as the crisis in Ukraine. Xi Jinping pointed out that China is highly concerned about the current situation in Ukraine. After the crisis broke out, I put forward the "four shoulds", and not long ago I proposed the "four commons". In the face of a global and complex crisis such as the Ukraine crisis, there are several points worth serious consideration: First, there are no winners in conflict wars; Second, there is no simple solution to complex problems; Third, confrontation between major powers must be avoided. China has always stood on the side of peace, will continue to persuade peace and promote talks, supports and expects Russia and Ukraine to resume peace talks, and hopes that the United States, NATO and the European Union will conduct comprehensive dialogue with Russia. The two heads of state believed that the meeting was in-depth, frank and constructive, and instructed the working teams of the two countries to follow up and implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in a timely manner, and take concrete actions to promote China-US relations to return to the track of stable development. The two heads of state agreed to continue regular contacts.

Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, He Lifeng, and others attended the meeting.

The above content comes from Xinhua News Agency