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China-U.S. Presidential Meeting:Setting Direction and Providing Impetus for Bilateral Relations

— Transcript of Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng’s Interview with the Press

2021-11-16 22:58

Q1:This is the first ever  virtual meeting between the Chinese and U.S. Presidents, and the two leaders had  quite a long discussion. Did the meeting achieve its objective?

A: On the morning of 16 November,  Chinese President Xi Jinping had a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe  Biden. This is the first ever virtual meeting between the two heads of state in  the history of China-U.S. relations. It has great significance for both  China-U.S. bilateral ties and international relations. The meeting lasted for  three and a half hours, from 8:45 a.m. to around 12:25 p.m. Beijing time, longer  than scheduled. The two sides had an extensive exchange of views on the  strategic, overarching and fundamental issues in China-U.S. relations, on their  respective development agenda and domestic and foreign policies, and on  international and regional issues of mutual interest. It was a candid, in-depth,  constructive and fruitful meeting. Under the current circumstances, it is  crucial that the two Presidents take the helm for the China-U.S. relationship.  The meeting has chartered the course and provided impetus for China-U.S.  relations to develop going forward.

Q2:The meeting has  covered major strategic issues about the future of China-U.S. relations and  important issues of shared interest and concern. Could you tell us more details  about what has been discussed? Any consensus reached?

A: The meeting can be recapped by  a set of figures-3, 4, 2 and 1. To be specific, President Xi put forward  three principles and four priority areas for growing China-U.S.  relations; the two Presidents reached two principled common  understandings; President Xi Jinping worked on the U.S. side on  one important question.

On the three  principles. At the meeting, President Xi pointed out the right way for  China and the United States to get along in the new era: First, mutual  respect. The two sides need to respect each other's social systems and  development paths, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and  respect each other's right to development. They need to treat each other as  equals, keep differences under control, and seek common ground while reserving  differences. Second, peaceful coexistence. No conflict and no  confrontation is a line that both sides must hold. Third, win-win  cooperation. The interests of China and the United States are deeply  intertwined. The world is big enough for our two countries to develop  individually and collectively. The right thing to do is to choose mutual benefit  over zero-sum game or the I-win-you-lose approach.

On the four priority  areas. President Xi identified at the meeting four areas where China  and the United States should focus their efforts on:

First, shouldering  responsibilities of major countries and leading global response to outstanding  challenges. China-U.S. cooperation may not solve all problems, but few  problems can be solved without it. The global initiatives China has proposed are  open to the United States, and we hope the same is true for initiatives from the  United States.

Second, acting in the  spirit of equality and mutual benefit to move forward exchanges at all levels  and in all areas and generate more positive energy for China-U.S.  relations. The two Presidents have stayed in close contact through  meetings, letters and phone calls, chartering the course for bilateral  relations. The two countries, with broad common interests in a wide range of  areas including economy, energy, mil-to-mil, law-enforcement, education, science  and technology, cyber, environmental protection and sub-national cooperation,  may draw on what each other has to offer and make the cake bigger for China-U.S.  cooperation. Our two sides could fully harness the channels and mechanisms of  dialogue between our diplomatic and security, economy, trade and finance, and  climate change teams, in an effort to advance practical cooperation and resolve  specific issues.

Third, managing  differences and sensitive issues in a constructive way to prevent China-U.S.  relations from getting derailed or out of control. It is only natural  for our two countries to have differences. What matters is to manage differences  in a constructive manner and prevent them from getting magnified or escalated.  China stands firm in defending its sovereignty, security and development  interests. It is important that the United States handle the relevant issues  with prudence.

Fourth, strengthening  coordination and cooperation on major international and regional hotspot issues  to provide more public goods to the world. In a world that is still not  peaceful, China and the United States need to work together with the rest of the  international community to defend world peace, promote global development, and  safeguard a fair and equitable international order.

On the two principled  common understandings. Both Presidents underscored the importance of China-U.S.  relations. President Xi noted the importance of the China-U.S.  relationship to the two countries and, beyond the bilateral scope, to the whole  world. We have no alternative but to get it right, and we cannot mess it up. A  sound and steady China-U.S. relationship is required for advancing our two  countries' respective development and for safeguarding a peaceful and stable  international environment. Our two sides need to increase communication and  cooperation, each manage our domestic affairs well and, at the same time,  shoulder our share of international responsibilities, take China-U.S. relations  forward in a positive direction, and work together to advance the noble cause of  world peace and development. Doing so will advance the interests of our two  peoples and meet the expectation of the international community.

President Biden said that how  U.S.-China relations evolve has a profound impact not only on the two countries,  but also on the rest of the world. The two countries have a responsibility to  the world as well as to the two peoples. The two sides must not mess up the  relationship, and the United States has no objective to change China's system.  He noted the need for the two sides to respect each other, have peaceful  coexistence, enhance communication, reduce misunderstandings and handle  differences in a constructive way.

Both Presidents expressed  that their opposition to a "new Cold War" and that China and the United States  should not have conflict or confrontation. China rejects a "new Cold  War" in whatever forms. And President Biden has also made it clear at the UN  General Assembly that the United States would not seek a "new Cold War". All  countries, including U.S. allies, are unwilling to return to the old path of  Cold War or to choose sides between China and the United States. At the meeting,  President Xi said that drawing ideological lines or dividing the world into  different camps or rival groups will only make the world suffer. The U.S. side  needs to meet its word of not seeking a "new Cold War" with concrete actions,  and play a constructive and uniting role in the Asia-Pacific. President Biden  noted that the U.S. revitalization of its alliances is not anti-China, and that  the United States' objective is not to have a conflict with China. The immediate  priority is for the two sides to have candid, extensive and substantive  dialogues in this relationship, and make sure that competition between the two  countries is healthy and does not veer into conflict.

Q3: Could I assume that  the "one important question" you mentioned in the end must be the Taiwan  question? Tensions are rising again in the cross-Straits relations. This is a  matter of concern for every Chinese. On the Taiwan question, the United States  has repeatedly interfered in China's internal affairs and stepped on China's red  lines, much to the dislike of the Chinese people.

A: Promoting national  reunification and safeguarding territorial integrity is the shared will and firm  resolve of all Chinese people. The Taiwan question has always been the most  important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations, and a fixed topic for  every discussion between our Presidents. At this meeting, President Xi Jinping  pointed out that the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint  Communiqués are the political foundation of China-U.S. relationship. Successive  U.S. administrations have made clear commitments on this question. In the UN  General Assembly Resolution 2758 and the three joint communiqués, the true  status quo of the Taiwan question and what lies at the heart of one China have  been articulated in clear-cut terms, i.e. there is but one China in the world  and Taiwan is part of China, and the Government of the People's Republic of  China is the sole legal government representing China.

Achieving China's complete  reunification is an aspiration shared by all sons and daughters of the Chinese  nation. We will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the  utmost sincerity and efforts. That said, should the separatist forces for Taiwan  independence make provocations, force our hands or even cross the red line, we  will be compelled to take resolute measures. On this question of China's  sovereignty and territorial integrity, there is no room for China to back down.

President Biden reiterated at the  meeting that the United States abides by the one-China policy and does not  support "Taiwan independence".

On the question of Taiwan, I have  a few more words to say. As you said, the Chinese people are very unhappy about  the recent wrongful words and actions by the U.S. side, which were attempts to  misrepresent and obscure the one-China policy. The Chinese government has made  serious representations to the U.S. side for multiple times. The meaning and  connotations of one China are clear, legally and politically. They are reflected  in the three joint communiqués and the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758,  which are official international agreements and documents with legal effect.  They should not be altered, distorted or negated. The UN General Assembly  Resolution 2758 has made it clear that "the representatives of the Government of  the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to  the UN". The Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat, in a number of legal  opinions following the resolution, has also confirmed that "the United Nations  considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status", and the  "'authorities' in 'Taipei' are not considered to enjoy any form of government  status". The three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiqués say in black and white that "The  United States of America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of  China as the sole legal Government of China, and acknowledges the Chinese  position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China". The United  States should adhere to the official bilateral agreements reached with China and  resolutions adopted with overwhelming majority at the UN General Assembly,  respect the fact that most countries uphold and stand for the one-China  principle. The U.S. side is expected to change its course and take steps to win  the trust of the Chinese people as well as the international community.

Q4: The rest of the world  is very concerned about risk management in China-U.S. relations. The United  States has talked about risk management many times, stressing the need for  making the rules of the road or "guardrails" in the bilateral relationship. What  is China's view? The United States is frequently talking about competition with  China. What is China's response?

A: President Xi Jinping said that  China is willing to discuss with the U.S. side effective risk management on the  basis of mutual respect. The high levels of the two sides, and the departments  of foreign affairs and national defense, among others, need to keep and increase  communication. That said, it is important to have the resolve to prevent and  avert crises, and remove their root causes. That would bring fundamental  solutions.

As for competition, President Xi  Jinping pointed out that cooperation should be priortized. Cooperation may  invovle areas of competition, such as the economic field, but competition must  be fair and healthy, conducive to respective and common development.

Let me draw an analogy: putting  out fire is certainly important, but fire prevention is equally important. So,  inflammables and explosives shall be removed whenever they are spotted.

Importantly, whether it is making  rules for competition or installing guardrails for a relationship, it should be  done through consultation on equal footing, agreed and adhered to by both sides,  rather than one side imposing conditions or demands on the other.

Q5: Since the start of  this year, values have often been made an issue by the U.S. side, and a  "Leaders' Summit for Democracy" will be held before the end of this year. Did  the two sides talk about this summit during the meeting?

A: President Xi Jinping said at  the meeting that democracy is not a one-size-fits-all product that has only one  model or configuration for the whole world. Whether a country is democratic or  not should be judged by its own people. Dismissing forms of democracy that are  different from one's own is in itself undemocratic. We are willing to have  dialogues on human rights on the basis of mutual respect, but we oppose using  human rights to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. Hong Kong,  Xinjiang, Tibet and maritime issues concern China's sovereignty, territorial  integrity and core interests, and are close to the hearts of the Chinese people.  On these questions, China has no room to back down. The United States should  respect China's interests and concerns, and handle the relevant issues in a  prudent and proper way.

Let me also say that China  advocates peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are  common values of humanity. Democracy is not a slogan to be chanted, but requires  concrete actions. The key criteria is whether it benefits the people and has  people's support.

Q6: We know that both  Chinese and U.S. Presidents care a lot about climate change. Was this issue  covered at this virtual meeting?

A: Climate change is a common  concern of the international community, and an important area of China-U.S.  cooperation. At the meeting, President Xi Jinping recalled China-U.S.  cooperation that brought about the Paris Agreement on climate change. A few days  ago, the two sides issued their second joint declaration about climate change.  As both countries are transitioning to green and low carbon economy, climate  change can well become a new highlight of cooperation.

Needless to say, cooperation on  climate change is inseparable from the broader climate of China-U.S. relations,  and thus requires efforts from both sides to foster an enabling atmosphere.  Since last year, China has announced its goals of carbon peak and carbon  neutrality, and then its decision of not building new coal-fired power projects  abroad. This means that China will use the shortest time in history to realize  the world's biggest cut in carbon emission intensity, a task that will take  extraordinary efforts. China is still the biggest developing country in the  world. All countries need to uphold the principle of common but differentiated  responsibilities, and strike a balance between climate change response and  livelihood protection. What the world needs is less finger-pointing or blame  game, but more solidarity and cooperation. Promises matter, but actions matter  even more. Developed countries need to earnestly fulfill their historical  responsibilities and obligations, and maintain consistency in their policies.

Q7: COVID-19 is still  ravaging the world and the world economy is struggling to recover. Mankind faces  multiple crises. Did the two Presidents talk about possibilities of cooperation  to address the crises?

A: Emerging from the shadow of  the pandemic, achieving recovery and stability, and overcoming the various risks  and challenges are shared aspirations of the international community. President  Xi Jinping has stressed on many occasions China's readiness to work with all  sides in the spirit of solidarity at trying times.

At the meeting, President Xi  pointed out that the pandemic once again proves that humanity lives in a  community wih a shared future. There is no higher priority than putting people's  lives first. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons for the  international community to defeat COVID-19. Response to epidemics must be based  on science. Politicizing health issues does no good but great harm. The pressing  priority in the global COVID response is to address the vaccine deficits and  close the vaccination gap.

At the early stage of the  pandemic, China suggested making COVID vaccines a global public good. Recently  we have raised a Global Vaccine Cooperation Action Initiative. China is among  the first to offer vaccines to developing countries in need, delivering over 1.7  billion doses of finished and bulk vaccines to the world. In the course of this  year, the vaccines we will provide to the international community may exceed two  billion doses. On top of its US$100 million donation to COVAX, China has  announced a donation of another 100 million doses of COVID vaccines to  developing countries within this year. And we will consider making additional  donations in light of the needs of developing countries, the least developed  ones in particular.

To get better prepared in the  future, China and the United States should advocate the establishment of a  cooperation mechanism for global public health and communicable disease  prevention and control, and step up prevention against communicable diseases  such as influenza. The two countries may also conduct exchanges and cooperation  in areas such as the monitoring of COVID pandemic, research on scientific  bottlenecks, disease prevention and treatment, and vaccination.

Q8: Did the two  Presidents discuss regional and international hot spot issues at the  meeting?

A: The two Presidents exchanged  views on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue and  Afghanistan, among other regional and international issues of mutual interest.  President Xi pointed out that China and the United States need to uphold the  international system with the United Nations at its center, the international  order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international  relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. A  multilateralism without China-U.S. cooperation or the participation of either  would be incomplete and unrealistic.

I wish to stress here that China  is willing to enhance cooperation on the relevant issues on the basis of mutual  respect, equality and mutual benefit. China will continue to play a positive  role on the relevant issues and make its own efforts. At the same time, we call  upon the U.S. side to play a constructive role, actively respond to, take  seriously and address reasonable concerns of parties concerned, and shoulder its  due responsibilities and obligations.

Q9: You said that the two  Presidents also exchanged views on the domestic development agenda. In China, we  have just had the sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, a big  event that has drawn a lot of attention. Did the two Presidents talk about  this?

A: At the meeting, President Xi  shared with President Biden, in the context of the sixth Plenum, the major  accomplishments and historical experience of the CPC in the past 100 years.  President Xi said that over the past centenary, the CPC has kept to its founding  aspiration and mission, namely to strive for the happiness of the Chinese people  and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We have accomplished a lot in that  direction, and we will continue to do more. Our people's aspiration for a better  life is what the Party strives for. "Serving the 1.4 billion Chinese people and  working with them for a better life is my great honor and a great  responsibility, and I shall put aside my own well-being and live up to people's  expectations," said President Xi. Our people's aspiration for a better life is  the biggest internal driver for China's development and an inevitable trend of  history. Any attempt to stop this historical trend will be rejected by the  Chinese people, and will by no means succeed.

President Xi also reiterated  China's unwavering determination to open wider at a high standard, to share  development opportunities with the rest of the world, and to make economic  globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. China is  talking about a new development paradigm for the purpose of expanding domestic  market, fostering a combination of domestic and international circulations with  greater scope and scale, and building a business environment that is more  market-oriented, law-based and up to international standard. All this will  provide a bigger market and greater opportunities to the United States and other  countries.

Q10: How will this  meeting shape the future of China-U.S. relations? Do both sides have any  arrangement for the two Presidents to meet in person sometime in  future?

A: This meeting, held at a  crucial moment, is an occasion for the two Presidents to once again set the  direction for this relationship and will have significant and far-reaching  impact for China-U.S. relations. President Xi and President Biden agreed to keep  in touch by multiple means. We are open to all forms of communication between  the two Presidents, including an in-person meeting. We will let things take  their natural course. What matters is to move in the same direction and foster a  favorable atmosphere for the meeting to generate good outcomes.

If the China-U.S. relationship  can not go back to what it was in the past, then it must move toward the future.  China has no illusion. But we have confidence, and will continue to stay the  course. We are open to all options that can take this relationship forward. That  said, we also have our principles, in short, the three principles put forward by  President Xi Jinping today: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win  cooperation.

The China-U.S.relationship stands  at a crossroads. We hope that the United States will work with China, follow the  spirit of the two Presidents' meeting with concrete actions, maintain dialogue  and communication, strengthen exchanges and cooperation and manage differences  in a responsible way, so as to promote sound and stable development of  China-U.S. relationship.


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