Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for stronger communication, cooperation and peaceful coexistence between China and the United States, saying the two countries have a shared responsibility to promote global development and progress.
Xi made the call on Thursday while addressing a welcome ceremony hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House during his state visit to the United States.
He said China and the United States, despite differences in their national conditions, could build greater mutual understanding and trust through candid, in-depth and continued dialogue.
“China and the United States, as two major countries, shoulder a historic responsibility of advancing human development and progress,” Xi said.
He noted that during President Trump’s visit to China earlier this year, the two leaders agreed to build a constructive China-US relationship based on strategic stability.
Xi said both countries should strengthen communication between their governments and legislative bodies, particularly in areas including foreign affairs, economic matters, financial cooperation, law enforcement and people-to-people exchanges.
On economic cooperation, he said the interests of China and the United States were deeply intertwined and that there was considerable room for collaboration.
“China keeps its door wide open, welcomes American companies wanting to invest and do business there. We hope Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the United States,” he said.
Xi also highlighted artificial intelligence, counternarcotics, law enforcement, trade and travel as areas where the two countries could expand cooperation.
He said China and the United States, as leading nations in artificial intelligence, have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage the technology for the benefit of humanity.
On bilateral tensions, Xi said the two countries should maintain peaceful coexistence and ensure that competition does not lead to conflict.
“China and the United States, as two major countries, stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in confrontation,” he said.
He called for regular dialogue between the two militaries and stronger mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention, adding that the two countries could overcome what is commonly known as the “Thucydides Trap.”
Xi also emphasised the importance of people-to-people relations, particularly among young people.
He announced an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China over the next five years for exchanges and study.
He further announced that two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, would soon arrive at Zoo Atlanta as part of continued people-to-people friendship between China and the United States.
Recalling the cooperation between Chinese and American forces during the Second World War, Xi said the history of cooperation between the two peoples should continue to serve as a foundation for future relations.
He concluded by saying that China’s national development and America’s goal of “making America great again” could progress alongside each other.
“Let us meet the people’s expectation and show our historical initiative. Let us keep advancing the cause of friendship between our two peoples and work together to build a better world,” Xi said.