Xi Jinping: "A Critical Moment in China-US Relations... Everyone Gets Hurt if We Fight"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] As U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold a virtual summit next week, both leaders emphasized the importance of bilateral relations.

On the 9th (local time), Qin Gang, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, attended the annual dinner of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, a U.S. nonprofit organization held in New York, and read out a congratulatory letter from President Xi, Xinhua News Agency reported.

In the letter, President Xi stated, "China-U.S. relations are at a critical historical juncture. If the two countries cooperate, both will benefit; if they fight, both will suffer," adding, "Cooperation is the only correct choice." He said, "China hopes to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the United States in various fields based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, cooperation, and 'win-win' outcomes."

He also added, "We hope to work with the United States to respond to major international and regional issues and global challenges, manage differences properly, and bring China-U.S. relations back onto a healthy and stable development track."

President Xi emphasized, "China-U.S. relations are among the most important bilateral relationships in the world today," and "How we handle this relationship concerns the fundamental interests of both countries and the fate of the world."

In his letter, President Biden said, "Today, we are at a historic turning point in the world. From COVID-19 to addressing the climate change crisis, China-U.S. relations have global significance."

He added, "To address these challenges and seize many opportunities, the international community must unite broadly. We must all work to build a safe, peaceful, and dynamic future." The United States has sent messages indicating its desire to cooperate with China on climate change and North Korea's nuclear issues.

President Biden noted that the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations has helped facilitate cooperation between the two countries over the past 50 years, saying that through such organizations, broader connections can be sought that may impact the interests of both countries and the world. Ambassador Qin said in his speech that President Xi's letter expressed China's proactive attitude and principled stance on the development of China-U.S. relations.

He stated, "Some believe that China-U.S. relations cannot return to what they once were, but does that mean we can disregard the relationship and recklessly destroy it? We can never agree with that," and pledged to continuously strive for the restoration of bilateral relations to a normal track through dialogue and cooperation.

Earlier that day, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources, that President Biden and President Xi are scheduled to hold a virtual summit next week. This will be President Biden's first virtual summit with President Xi since taking office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.