Beijing calls for stable China-US relations based on reciprocity

Coming to a new crossroads in China-US relations, Beijing called for a return to the right track of stable and healthy bilateral relations with mutual respect and cooperation, which is crucial to the world’s peaceful development and prosperity.

In a video conference on Friday with US representatives attending the 12th China-US CEO and former senior officials’ dialogue, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan underscored the importance of China-US relations on world prosperity and stability, and stressed mutual respect and cooperation to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

Wang said the development of bilateral trade and economy have shown complementary advantages, mutual benefits and win-win results since China and the US established diplomatic ties more than 40 years ago, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

US representatives said the two countries should meet halfway and look for the largest possible common ground on cooperation to guarantee a healthy and stable development in bilateral relations.

Friday marked the 42nd anniversary of the nine-day visit to the US in 1979 paid by Deng Xiaoping, the initiator of China’s reform and opening-up policy. The visit came less than a month after China-US relations normalized on January 1 that year, and was the first time that a national Chinese leader visited America since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

The history that followed told the world that the two sides made this major decision to establish diplomatic relations is completely correct, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a press conference on Friday, noting that the bilateral relations have achieved historic development through joint efforts of generations on both sides.

The total economic output of China and the US, the world’s two largest economies, has exceeded one-third of the world’s and contributed over half of the world’s economic growth. Two-way investment has risen from almost zero to nearly $240 billion. The annual personnel exchanges have hit 5 million times.

“Facts have proven that cooperation between China and the US will benefit both sides and the world,” Zhao said.

“It’s never too late to do the right thing,” Zhao said, noting that at this moment, relations between China and the US have come to a new crossroads, and a new window of hope is opening.