China, US agree to promote coordination, cooperation

China and the United States have agreed to promote a bilateral relationship featuring coordination and cooperation, according to statements released after top foreign affairs officials and defense chiefs of the two countries concluded a dialogue in Washington on Friday.

The second round of China-US Diplomatic and Security Dialogue has seen the two sides have in-depth exchanges of respective strategic intentions, in addition to having “candid, constructive and productive” discussions on topics ranging from trade to the situation in China’s Xinjiang region.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. China’s State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, who was visiting the US, attended the event.

The meeting was held after President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump had a phone conversation on Nov 1, in which they agreed to meet again at the end of November.

Both sides highly commended the strategic guidance of summit diplomacy for China-US relations, and agreed that under the current circumstances the leaders’ meeting is of great importance to maintaining the steady and healthy development of China-US relations, according to a Chinese press release.

“The two sides will follow the direction and principles set out by the two presidents, manage differences with mutual respect, and expand cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner and work together to promote a China-US relationship that is characterized by coordination and cooperation,” it said.

It added that both sides are preparing for the success of the leaders’ planned meeting.

In a separate statement, the US secretary of State said the US highlighted Trump’s vision for a “constructive, results-oriented” US-China relationship based on fairness and reciprocity. Both sides committed to coordinate resolving differences and cooperate on common goals, it added.

Pompeo, in an apparent toning down of recent US administration’s barbed comments on China, insisted Washington is not pursuing a new “Cold War” with China.

“The United States is not pursuing a Cold War or containment policy with China,” Pompeo told a joint news conference. “Rather, we want to ensure that China act responsibly and fairly in support of security and prosperity in each of our two countries.”

Pompeo said that even as the two countries confront “important differences” in the bilateral relationship, “our cooperation remains essential on many, many central issues”, including the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

In elaborating China’s strategic intensions and policies, Yang, a veteran diplomat, said, “Everything that we do is to deliver a better life for the Chinese people, to realize rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is not intended to challenge or displace anyone.”

Yang, also director of the CPC Central Committee’s Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, said China will stay on the course of reform and opening up and a path of peaceful development. It is committed to working with other countries for a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

China will remain a contributor to world peace and global development, as well as a defender of the international order, Yang said at the news conference.

“The Chinese side made it clear to the United States that it should stop sending its vessels and military aircraft close to Chinese islands and reefs and stop actions that undermine China’s sovereignty and security interest,” he said. “We urge the US to play constructive role for peace and stability in the South China Sea. That will certainly help reduce security risks.”

Reiterating that the one-China policy is the political foundation for China-US relations, Yang urged Washington to adhere to the one-China policy and the principles of the three joint communiques, and properly deal with Taiwan-related matters.

Yang also said matters related to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region are China’s internal affairs, in which foreign countries have no right to interfere.

The Chinese government has taken a host of measures to promote stability and development while within the confines of law, taking steps to crack down on ethnic separatist activities and violent terrorist crimes to safeguard national security and life or property of the people.

These measures have paid off, Yang said, adding that he hoped the US would respect the fact and look at the situation in an objective light, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.

Yang said a trade war between the two countries will only end up hurting both sides and the global economy.

He said the China has kept the channel of dialogue open and hoped the economic teams of the two countries will follow through on what the presidents agreed upon in their phone call, to find a mutually acceptable solution.

Defense Minister Wei said that China always approaches its military-to-military relationship with the US with “utmost sincerity”, China’s military will resolutely safeguard the sovereignty, security, and development interests of China, and that both sides should respect each other’s core interests and major concerns.