Xi seeks 'renewed impetus' in Sino-US relationship
In meeting with Jimmy Carter in Beijing, president-in-waiting calls for 'new type of bilateral ties' between the world's two biggest economies
The new Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping, has called for "renewed impetus" to be given to Sino-US relations as he set the tone for the relationship in a meeting with former US president Jimmy Carter in Beijing on Thursday.
Xi called on the world's two most powerful nations to "accumulate positive energy" in developing their ties.
"Both China and the United States should be innovative and make efforts to accumulate positive energy to build a China-US co-operative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit," Xinhua quoted Xi as telling Carter.
"Positive energy" is a term used by mainland internet users to refer to giving renewed impetus to something.
"They should also create a new type of bilateral ties between major powers, regardless of difficulties," Xi said.
Analysts interpreted Xi's remark as an effort to achieve a breakthrough in the troubled ties between the world's largest and second-largest economies and set the tone for years to come under his leadership. Xi will succeed Hu Jintao as president in March.