New | Xi Jinping urges US, China to reconsider their attitudes towards each other
Chinese president addresses the start of the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing, saying a confrontation 'will surely spell disaster for both countries and for the world'
President Xi Jinping called on China and the United States to make a correct judgment on their strategic intentions in today’s kick-off speech for an annual high-level dialogue between the two powers.
“If we are in confrontation, it will surely spell disaster for both countries and for the world,” he said.
The two-day Strategic and Economic Dialogue began in Beijing with Vice-Premier Wang Yang and State Councillor Yang Jiechi leading the Chinese side, and Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew heading the US side.
Addressing the delegations, Xi said friction between the two nations is inevitable, as they are on different development paths. But also as these talks are taking place in an atmosphere of growing mutual mistrust, he added they have to break the old pattern of confrontation.
“How China and the US perceive each other’s strategic intentions will have a direct bearing on the policies we adopt and the development of our bilateral ties,” he said. “One can ill afford the mistake on fundamental issues, a mistake that may possibly ruin the whole undertaking."
The US should also respect China’s territorial integrity, and the two nations should “refrain from imposing their views on the other side”, Xi added.