China, U.S. reaffirm commitment to promote new type of major-country ties

THE HAGUE, March 24 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Monday that his country is willing to work with the United States to keep the two nations on the right path towards building a new type of major-country relations.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, ahead of a nuclear security summit.

It is the first meeting between the two presidents this year, who discussed issues ranging from development of bilateral relations, anti-terrorism cooperation to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the Ukraine crisis.

They also exchanged views on intellectual property protection, RMB exchange rate, Internet security and the Iranian nuclear issue, among other things.

BUILDING A NEW TYPE OF MAJOR-COUNTRY RELATIONS

This year marks the 35th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. China stands ready to work with the United States to build a new type of major-country relations for the sustained, sound and stable development of bilateral ties, Xi said.

Xi said that he appreciated a similar commitment from the U.S. side in a letter he had received recently from Obama.

Beijing will also join Washington in handling bilateral ties based on such principles as non-confrontational actions, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation, Xi said.

He expects the two nations to take more active and forceful actions to coordinate their bilateral, regional and global cooperation, and efficiently manage their differences and other sensitive matters so as to maintain a healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.

For his part, Obama hailed the progress in the U.S.-China relationship over the past 35 years, which is now as important as any bilateral relationship in the world.

The U.S. president said he is willing to maintain communication with Xi over a series of issues, and to jointly push forward the building of a new type of major-country relations.

UKRAINE CRISIS

China has always held a "just and objective attitude" towards the Ukraine crisis, Xi said, reiterating China's stance that "the promotion of a political solution to the crisis serves the interests of all parties."

China has made its own proposal on solving the issue, which called for promptly setting up an international coordination mechanism and urged all related parties not to take any action that might lead to a further deterioration of the situation, Xi said.

"China supports the constructive efforts made by the international community to ease tension, and holds an open attitude toward all plans that are helpful to promote a political solution," he said.

Obama expounded on Washington's views on the Ukraine issue, saying that his country agreed with China's stance and principles, attached importance to China's role, and was willing to maintain communication and cooperation with China.

SIX-PARTY TALKS

Xi called on all relevant parties to restart the long stalled Six-Party talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula as soon as possible, saying the only correct way to solve the issue is "to restart negotiations."

He urged all related parties to implement the goals set in a joint statement released on Sept. 19, 2005 at the conclusion of the fourth round of the Six-Party talks held in Beijing.

The statement affirmed, among other things, that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) promised to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, and in return, the United States and South Korea said they would accommodate the DPRK's security concerns.

"China has major interests and concerns on the Korean Peninsula, and firmly commits itself to realizing the denuclearization of, and to safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula," Xi said.

The Chinese president said his country is willing to keep close contact and coordination with the United States and other relevant countries on the issue.

In response, Obama said the United States appreciates China's constructive efforts to promote peace and negotiations, and is ready to maintain communication with China over the issue.

The Six-Party talks brought together representatives of the DPRK, South Korea, China, the United States, Russia and Japan.

TAIWAN, TIBET ISSUES

Xi urged the United States to honor its commitment to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan and Tibet issues, adding Washington should never support any activities aimed at separating China.

Speaking of the East China Sea and South China Sea issues, Xi said the United States should hold a fair and objective attitude and make more efforts to promote a proper solution.

Obama said his country has never changed its stand that it respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan and Tibet issues.

Washington does not intend to undermine China's stability or contain it, and supports the country's reform, the U.S. president said.

Obama said his country is willing to handle its differences and frictions with China in a constructive manner, and to work with Beijing to send positive signals that the two sides are both committed to developing their relations.

FIGHTING TERRORISM

Xi and Obama also agreed to strengthen the two countries' cooperation on fighting terrorism and transnational crime.

The Chinese president said he appreciated Obama's condemnation of terrorism in all forms, and China is willing to work with all the countries, including the United States, to fight terrorism.

Xi also called for enhanced China-U.S. law-enforcement cooperation in such areas as fighting transnational crime and hunting for fugitives.

Obama reiterated his condemnation of the recent terrorist attack in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming, saying that his country opposes terrorism in all forms and will strongly condemn terrorist activities wherever they take place.

The United States is willing to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation with China, Obama said.

On March 1, a group of knife-wielding assailants indiscriminately attacked civilians at a railway station in Kunming, killing 29 people and injuring another 143.

MICHELLE'S CHINA TRIP, MH370

During the meeting, Obama also thanked China's hospitality for his family who are still on their China trip.

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, with her two daughters and mother, arrived in Beijing on Thursday afternoon, kicking off her seven-day visit to China.

Xi said he appreciated that Obama called him recently to express condolences over the missing Malaysian passenger plane and ordered relevant U.S. authorities to participate in the search and rescue operation and share information with the Chinese side.

Xi arrived in the Netherlands Saturday for a state visit, the first one ever made by a Chinese president to the western European country since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1972.

The Netherlands is the first leg of Xi's Europe tour, which will also take him to France, Germany and Belgium.