China, U.S. highlight cooperation at new round of diplomatic, security dialogue

Yang Jiechi (4th R), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, presides over the second China-U.S. Diplomatic and Security Dialogue in Washington D.C., the United States, on Nov. 9, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

Senior Chinese and U.S. officials on Friday said the two countries have vast room for cooperation and they should work jointly to enhance cooperation on trade, military, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism, among others.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, co-chaired the second China-U.S. Diplomatic and Security Dialogue with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe also participated in the dialogue.

The two sides held in-depth discussion about the preparations for the scheduled meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump during the G20 summit in Argentina, and had a thorough exchange on major international and regional issues of common concern.

The dialogue was candid, constructive and produced great results.

For his part, Yang said that Xi and Trump agreed during their telephone conversation on Nov. 1 to work for new progress based on healthy and stable development of relations, and to meet with each other during the upcoming G20 summit.

The two sides spoke highly of the strategic leading role of the two presidents' diplomacy in the bilateral relations, noting that under the current circumstances, their meeting carries great importance to the stability of bilateral ties.

The two sides agreed to strengthen communication, keep close coordination and conduct elaborate preparations to ensure that the important meeting will yield positive results.

In their talks, the Chinese and U.S. officials exchanged their views thoroughly on their own strategic intentions.

The Chinese side said that China will adhere to the socialist path with Chinese characteristics, stick to reform and opening-up and peaceful development, and work with other nations around the world to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

What China has done is to seek better life for its people, rather than challenge or replace any nations, the Chinese officials said.

China has, as always, been a builder of world peace, a contributor to the global development, and a guardian of the international order, they said.

They noted that China firmly sticks to defense-oriented national strategy, and its effort to develop its military in a moderate manner aims to safeguard its national security, not to engage in an arms race with anyone.

China respects the U.S. sovereignty, security and development interest, and the United States should give China reciprocal treatment, they said.

China has committed to working together with the United States for the goals of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, so as to make positive contributions to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia Pacific region and the world at large, the Chinese officials said.

For its part, the U.S. side said that it welcomes China's economic development and success, and it has no intention to contain China.

The U.S. side hopes to develop a constructive and fruitful bilateral relationship based on respect and reciprocity.

The two sides agreed that maintaining the stable development of bilateral ties accords with the fundamental interests of the two peoples as well as those of the international society.

They also agreed to follow the direction and principles set by the two top leaders, manage and control differences on the basis of mutual respect, expand cooperation based on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, so as to push forward the China-U.S. relationship featuring coordination and cooperation.