Chinese, U.S. presidents exchange views on climate conference, bilateral ties over phone

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in Paris, France, Nov. 30, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

BEIJING, Dec. 11 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama held a telephone conversation Friday to exchange views on the Paris climate conference, China-U.S. relations and other major international issues of common concern.

In the phone conversation, Xi recalled that during their meeting in Paris last month, the two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and issues of common concern, reaching much new consensus.

As a new year is approaching, important development opportunities are faced in China and the United States relations, with the existence of some challenges. Therefore, to maintain sustained, healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations meets the common interests of the two countries, Xi said.

Xi expressed the hope that the U.S. side will work with the Chinese side to promote practical exchange and cooperation in various fields, and manage differences and sensitive issues in a constructive way, to ensure that China-U.S. relations will develop toward the right direction of building a new model of major-country relationship, Xi told Obama.

Obama said that he was very glad to have a successful meeting with Xi in Paris not long ago.

The two sides often keep coordination on major international and regional issues, which is of important and positive significance to the development of U.S.-China relations, Obama said.

As all parties at the Paris climate conference are having intensive discussion in a bid to build consensus on eventual reaching of positive and strong agreement, the U.S. side is willing to maintain close coordination with China to promote achievement of success at the Paris climate conference, Obama told Xi.

Xi recalled that both he and Obama attended events in the opening of Paris climate conference and that they have kept frequent communication on issues of climate change, sending a positive signal to the international community that China and the United States are strengthening cooperation in the field of climate change.

As negotiations in the Paris climate conference are coming to an end, China and the United States need to strengthen coordination and work together with all parties to ensure that the Paris climate conference will reach an agreement as scheduled, which will be in the interest of the international community, Xi said.