The Chinese president said the common interests of the two countries should be respected and each country's success should be an opportunity, not a threat, for the other. He said China and the United States should act responsibly and properly handle bilateral relations. In this way, the two countries can contribute to global peace and development.

President Xi Jinping stressed that competition among major powers does not represent the trend of the times, and it cannot solve America's own problems or the challenges facing the world . He affirmed that China respects America's interests and does not seek to challenge or replace Washington. In this spirit, the United States should respect China and not harm Beijing's legitimate rights and interests.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) receives US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

President Xi Jinping expressed hope that the US Secretary of State’s visit would bring positive signals to bilateral relations. “The Chinese side has made its position clear, and the two sides have agreed to abide by the common understanding that President Joe Biden and I reached in Bali,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also affirmed that the two sides have reached agreements on some specific issues.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters news agency, Secretary of State Blinken conveyed President Joe Biden's statement that Washington and Beijing have an obligation to manage bilateral relations and the US is committed to fulfilling this obligation.

Previously, during his visit to Beijing, the head of the US State Department met with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that at the meeting, Mr. Wang Yi stressed that Mr. Blinken's two-day visit to China comes at a critical time in China-US relations and that the two sides need to make a choice between dialogue and confrontation, cooperation and conflict. According to him, both sides need to reverse the downward spiral of China-US relations, push back to a stable path and jointly find the right path for both Beijing and Washington in the new era.

A day earlier, Mr. Blinken also held talks with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. The two sides had a frank, in-depth and constructive exchange on the overall bilateral relationship and important issues of mutual concern. The two sides agreed to jointly implement the important consensus reached at the meeting between the two heads of state in Bali, Indonesia, effectively control disagreements, and promote dialogue, exchange and cooperation.

The two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges; continue to promote consultations on the guiding principles of China-US relations; promote consultations by the joint working group to address specific issues in bilateral relations; encourage the expansion of people-to-people and educational exchanges; and discuss increasing commercial flights between the two countries.

BAO CHAU