Xi urges US to improve relations

Mutual respect, managing differences underlined in phone talk with Biden

Whether China and the United States can properly handle their ties or not has a bearing on the world's future and destiny, and both countries must provide a good answer to this "question of the century", said President Xi Jinping.

Xi made the comment when speaking on the phone with US President Joe Biden on Friday morning, the second talk between them since Biden took office in January.

On behalf of the world's top two economies, the two leaders conducted candid, in-depth and extensive strategic communication and exchanges on China-US ties and issues of common concern.

Experts said the conversation reflected Beijing's strong desire that Washington should abandon its strategic misjudgment on China, stop stoking tension and move toward the same goal with Beijing if it seeks greater collaboration on global issues.

Xi pointed out that the US' China policy has led bilateral ties to serious difficulties, which is not in line with the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries and common global interests.

Getting the relationship right is not optional, but something both countries must do and must do well, Xi said.

Currently, China and the US are respectively the largest developing country and the largest developed country in the world.

Since the two countries broke the ice in their relationship in 1971, China and the US have worked together to bring tangible benefits to all countries, Xi said, adding that both countries and the world will benefit from China-US cooperation and will suffer from their confrontation.

Speaking about opportunities for the improvement of ties, Xi quoted a classic ancient Chinese poem: "Mountains and rivers may block the way, yet another village will appear amidst willow trees and blooming flowers."

Biden said that the world is changing fast, the US-China relationship is the most consequential relationship in the world, and the future of most of the planet will depend on how the US and China get on with each other.

The two countries have no interest in letting competition veer into conflict, and the US side has no intention of changing its one-China policy, Biden said.

Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said the talks were much needed and show that Washington should be held accountable for the ties' current serious difficulties.

"Prior to the leaders' talks, China has several times warned the US over the damage it was doing to the relationship, but Washington did not take heed of these warnings and took steps to undermine the ties over and over again," Su said.

Friday's phone conversation covered a wide range of topics, but the bilateral ties will not improve unless the US breaks from its recent pattern of behavior and correct its mistakes, Su added.

Time to join hands

As the world is faced with many common problems, Xi said that China and the US should have a broad vision and a great sense of duty, and keep looking ahead and moving forward.

The two countries should display strategic courage and political resolve and return their relationship back to the track of stable development as soon as possible, which would benefit the people of the two countries and the rest of the world, he added.

He noted that on the basis of respecting each other's core concerns and properly managing differences, the respective departments of the two countries may continue their engagement and dialogue, and advance coordination and cooperation.

Their collaboration may cover climate change, COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, economic recovery and major international and regional issues, and they could tap more potential for cooperation and add more positive factors to bilateral relations, Xi added.

Xi elaborated on China's position on issues including climate change.

He underscored that China stays true to prioritizing ecological conservation and its green, low-carbon path to development, and it has been earnestly undertaking international duties suited to its own national conditions.

Biden said the US is prepared to have more candid exchanges and constructive discussions with China to identify key and priority areas where cooperation is possible, avoid miscommunication, miscalculation and unintended conflict, and get US-China relations back on track.

The US side looks forward to more discussions and cooperation with China to reach more common positions on climate change and other important issues, he said.

Diao Daming, an associate professor of US studies at Renmin University of China, noted that Washington has recently sought China's cooperation on a number of issues at various levels.

"But Washington should also show respect. It should not disrespect China and not interfere in China's internal affairs arbitrarily while asking China to work with it. This is unreasonable and cannot be accepted by any country," Diao said.

Beijing is willing to coordinate with Washington on many fronts, but Washington should meet basic requirements, such as mutual respect, justice and mutual benefits, Diao said.

At the start of Friday's talks, Xi expressed sympathy to Biden and the American people over the casualties and property losses caused by Hurricane Ida, and Biden expressed his appreciation.

During the phone call, the two sides agreed that in-depth communication between the two heads of state on China-US relations and major international issues is very important in order to steer bilateral ties in the right direction.

Both sides agreed to maintain frequent contact by multiple means and instruct officials at the working level to intensify their activity, conduct extensive dialogue and create conditions for the further development of China-US relations.