Xi, Obama talk and dine at Blair House on first day of DC leg of state visit

World Today

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, exchanged views on governance, bilateral ties and other issues, in a three-hour-long talk in Blair House Thursday night, after Xi was warmly welcomed by Obama at the White House.

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Recalling their previous meetings in California and Beijing, Xi noted that such in-depth communications inject vigor into the development of China-U.S. relations.

Reform and opening up are basic state policies of China and will be the main driver for China’s further development, Xi explained.

“China will never close its door to the outside world,” Xi said, pledging a more open and transparent environment for foreign business to invest and operate in China.

Xi added that China welcomes any country, including the U.S., to join China-proposed initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Sticking to the path of peaceful development as a strategic choice, Xi said that China will unswervingly safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests.

In response, Obama welcomed China’s peaceful uprising, agreeing that a steady and prosperous China is not only good for China, but also for the U.S. and the international community.

Obama said that the U.S. wishes for a China that plays a bigger role in the international scene. China and the U.S. should try to avoid conflicts and bilateral relations should be constructive and more positive, Obama added.

Meanwhile, Xi said that China and the U.S. should increase high-level strategic mutual trust. The U.S. has always been China’s diplomatic priority and bilateral cooperation has always been the mainstream of the two nations, according to the Chinese president.

Both leaders will hold talks in the Oval Office on Friday, before taking questions in a joint news conference at Rose Garden.

Story by CCTV News