While in the United States, President Xi will hold talks with President Obama and meet with people both in and outside the government. These will be occasions for President Xi to explain China's concept of peaceful development and win-win cooperation, and to relate to the American people the importance of having China-US cooperation, not confrontation. They will also be opportunities to address US concerns about possible conflict with China regarding the current international system and order in the Asia-Pacific. We hope that the two sides will use such opportunities to reaffirm their respective development direction and strategic intentions, their growing common interests and their common responsibility for peace, stability and development.

I wish to reaffirm here that China is a staunch supporter of the current international order.

Seventy years ago, fighting against fascism alongside people of other countries and suffering a casualty of 35 million people, China achieved victory in the war for peace and became a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of its Security Council. Later, with 22 years of persistence and thanks to the support of other developing countries, China's lawful seat at the United Nations was restored. And by surmounting obstacles through 15 years of negotiations, China joined the WTO. China is now party to almost all intergovernmental organizations and has acceded to over 400 international multilateral treaties. A growing number of Chinese nationals are working on important posts in international agencies. China is now a major player and supporter of the current international order and system. There is no reason why China should challenge the international order that is based on the victory against fascism. And there is no incentive for China to overturn the international system, in which it is a full member.

Of course, the international order and system also need to keep abreast of the times. It should go through reforms and be adaptive to development and progress in international relations. It should better reflect the legitimate call of developing countries and better enable countries to address emerging global challenges. China will work with other countries and play its due part in making the international order and system more just and equitable.

China is also a staunch supporter of peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Asia is key to China's development and prosperity. The United States is a global power as well as an important member of the Asia-Pacific. China and the United States both have major responsibility for peace and prosperity in the region, where they share growing common interests. Positive interaction and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the US in the Asia-Pacific are absolutely possible and necessary. It serves the need of both countries and meets the expectation of other countries in the region.

China is committed to good neighborliness and a neighborhood diplomacy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. China's development is not about moving the cheese of others. It is about making the pie bigger for win-win cooperation so that more countries could stand to benefit. China's goal is not to create spheres of influence but to build communities of common interests and shared future. By putting forward initiatives such as building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, China does not intend to seek dominance over regional affairs but to offer more development opportunities to other countries. And China's proposal on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is not meant to start something new, but to improve the existing financial system and remove bottlenecks for financing in the region. The necessary construction activities by China on its own islands and reefs in the South China Sea are not directed against anyone. Rather, they are designed to improve logistic conditions on the islands and reefs and enable China to fulfill its international obligation as the largest littoral state of the South China Sea.

I wish to reiterate that the Nansha Islands are China's territory. This is backed by historical and legal facts. It is simply understandable for a sovereign country to uphold its own territorial sovereignty and prevent its legitimate rights and interests from being undermined. At the same time, China is committed to finding peaceful solution to disputes through dialogue and consultation on the basis of international law. China is committed to advancing COC consultations toward early agreement and to rule-based and proper management of differences. China is committed to peace and stability in the South China Sea and to freedom of navigation and overflight by all countries in accordance with law. These are China's positions that will stay unchanged.

Efforts to enhance trust and reduce misgivings between China and the US are aimed to promote sound growth of bilateral relations and deepen win-win cooperation between the two sides at the regional and global levels.

We believe that as long as China and the United States could work to enhance mutual respect and hold firm to the bottom line of no conflict and no confrontation, it will lay the ground work for even greater progress in win-win cooperation.

We hope China and the US could work together to uphold the UN-centered international order and international system. Both countries could act as strong supporters of the norms governing international relations that are based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.