Chinese president meets veteran US diplomats

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is leading a US delegation for the fifth meeting of the China-US Track Two High-Level Dialogue in Beijing, China, Nov. 2, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is leading a US delegation for the fifth meeting of the China-US Track Two High-Level Dialogue in Beijing on Monday.

The dialogue is a gathering for dozens of prominent retired diplomats and officials from both countries.

The line-up on the US side is quite impressive, with former Secretary of State George Schultz, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, former US trade representative Carla Hills, former US Senator Sam Nunn, former US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley and Thomas Donilon on the mission.

Xi recalled his visit to the United States in September, reiterating that it is in accordance with the common interest of the two countries and their people to jointly build a new model of major-country relationship that features non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

He called on China and the US to deal with their relations from a strategic stance and have a correct understanding of each other's intention.

The president briefed the US delegation on the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday by adopting proposals on the 13th five-year plan for national economic and social development from 2016 to 2020.

The implementation of the 13th five-year plan will ensure China's economy will develop at a higher level, and will provide more opportunities for China-US cooperation, he said.

Xi fully recognized the significance of the China-US Track Two High-Level Dialogue and appreciated the positive role played by the US delegates in deepening mutual understanding between the two countries.

He encouraged them to continue to contribute their creative thinking to the development of China-US ties.

Kissinger extended congratulations to Xi for his successful US visit, saying his visit has generated a positive response among USsociety.

He suggested the two nations build their relationship by strengthening strategic dialogue, deepening mutual understanding and boosting bilateral cooperation, and offset the negative factors in bilateral ties.

Wang Qishan, secretary of the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, also met with Kissinger on Monday.

He told Kissinger that the CPC is keenly aware of the challenges it faces and the problems it has.

A good code of conduct and clean practice for Party members concerns the popular support and the ruling foundation of the CPC, which is a political task of prime importance, said Wang.

The CPC will continue to explore effective ways for inner-Party supervision and ensure that the power of Party officials is caged in Party disciplinary rules and law, he said.

Kissinger said he observed that China has undergone profound changes since the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012 and respected the courage of the CPC.

China's success serves the interests of the world, he said, expressing his willingness to make new contributions to the healthy development of Sino-US ties.

The China-US Track Two High-Level Dialogue mechanism was launched in Beijing in October 2009.