Xi looks for ‘right way’ to mend China-US relations after party congress

In his first message to the US since securing a third team as leader, the Chinese president says Beijing stands ready to work with Washington

Xi’s message was delivered to a gala in New York which included messages from Joe Biden and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger

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Xu Xueyuan, deputy chief of mission at China’s embassy in the US, delivers President Xi Jinping’s first message to an American audience at a gala evening in New York. Photo: National Committee on US-China Relations

Published: 11:00pm, 27 Oct 2022Updated: 3:01am, 28 Oct 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is ready to find the “right way” to get along with the US, and wants bilateral relations back to “sound and steady development”, in his first message to the US since cementing his historic third term as leader on Sunday.

Deputy chief of mission for the Chinese embassy in the US Xu Xueyuan read out the message at the National Committee on US-China Relations (NCUSCR) annual gala in New York on Wednesday.

“China stands ready to work with the United States to find the right way to get along with each other in the new era, on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” Xi said.

“I hope the National Committee and all those who care for and support China-US relations will continue to play an active role and help bring the bilateral relations back to the track of sound and steady development.”

Xi’s remarks to the more than 400 attendees – who included business leaders, former government officials and long-time China watchers – followed a message from US President Joe Biden, whose speech was delivered by NCUSCR chair Jacob Lew, who served as treasury secretary under former president Barack Obama.

“My administration is focused on responsibly managing the competition between our two countries,” said Biden, who has held five virtual summits with Xi since taking office last year.