China willing to join U.S. in promoting new model for major-country ties: Xi

THE HAGUE, March 24 -- China 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, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.

The Chinese leader 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.

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

The Chinese leader added that he agreed that China-U.S. cooperation, as was described by Obama in the letter, is beneficial for the two countries to promote shared interests and deal with common challenges.

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.

Xi also called on both sides to speed up their talks for a bilateral investment pact.

China hopes that the United States can loosen its export controls over civilian high-tech products, and level the playing field for Chinese companies doing business in the United States.

The Chinese leader urged the two sides to step up military dialogues and exchanges at various levels, promote trust, and avoid misunderstanding.

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

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

Speaking of the missing Malaysia jetliner MH370, the Chinese president thanked the U.S. input for searching the plane, as well as sharing relevant information with China.

For his part, Obama 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.

Obama also said his country seeks to join China in working not only on issues of mutual interests and concern, but also on questions like human rights, or maritime issues in the South China Sea.

This bilateral relationship is "as important as any bilateral relationship in the world," he said.

The U.S. leader said he believes that China and the United States, ultimately by working together, can help strength international law and respect for the sovereignty of nations.

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.