Xi stresses ‘win-win cooperation’:

Healthy relationships key to peace and stability of region, says China’s president

DANANG: Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed importance of winwin cooperation and called for properly managing differences while handling bilateral ties during meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

Xi said healthy and stable relations between China and its neighbouring countries will bring peace and stability to the region and the world at large.

In his keynote speech at the Apec meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, Xi outlined pragmatic ways to achieve common development by further- ing economic globalisation, fostering open economies, and promoting trade and investment liberalisation.

“We need to take determined steps toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, and herald a new round of development in the course of opening up,” Xi said.

During his meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Xi said the two countries share common interests in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Xi added that friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation have always been the main theme of China-South Korea relations since they were forged 25 years ago, with China placing importance on its relations with South Korea.

China stands ready to join hands with South Korea to push for the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, Xi said, as good bilateral ties are in accordance with the trend of history and time, as well as the common expectation of the two peoples.

Xi reiterated China’s stance on the issue of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), stressing that on such high-stake issues, the two sides should take an attitude that is responsible to history, to bilateral ties and to both peo- ples, and make decisions that can stand the test of history, so as to steadily move forward bilateral relations in the right direction.

While meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Chinese president called on the two countries to speed up the alignment of their development initiatives – the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam’s “Two Corridors and One Economic Circle” plan – and deepen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, finance, production capacity and infrastructure construction to achieve mutual beneficial results.

Meanwhile, in his meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Xi stressed that with the two nation’s cooperation enhanced, bilateral relations have seen healthy development, bringing benefits to both peoples and contributing to the region’s peace and stability.

Reaffirming China’s commitment to stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the Chinese president said China will treat neighbouring countries with amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

Xi told Duterte that China is to work with Asean to maintain peace and stability, as well as development and prosperity in the South China Sea region. — Xinhua