By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
Stockholm, Nov. 16(ChinaEuropeDialogue) — Xi-Biden video meeting was held on Tuesday to make it clear that China hopes that the two sides should respect each other, peaceful coexist and cooperation on a win-win basis and Taiwan is China’s internal affairs, no one should step on China’s “red line”. And the US President Joe Biden said he agreed with President Xi and the US has no intention to change China’s system, no intention to conflict with China, insist on one China policy and not support Taiwan’s independence, keep peace across the Taiwan Straits, according to Xinhua News Agency.
According to AP, President Biden and Xi held three hours video meeting and tried to tramp down the tension between the two sides.
Economic and Trade relations
According to Xinhua, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday described the China-U.S. economic and trade relations as mutually beneficial in nature, and said that economic and trade issues between the two countries should not be politicized.
The two sides need to make the cake bigger for cooperation, Xi said during a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.
Xi said China takes seriously the wishes of U.S. business community to travel to China more easily, and has agreed to upgrade fast-track arrangement, which will further enhance economic and trade exchanges between China and the United States and boost the recovery of the two economies.
He also said the United States should stop abusing or overstretching the concept of national security to suppress Chinese businesses.
Xi said it is imperative for China and the United States to maintain communication on macroeconomic policies, support world economic recovery and guard against economic and financial risks.
The United States should be mindful of the spillover effects of its domestic macro policies, and adopt responsible macroeconomic policies, he added.
About Taiwan Issue
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China will be compelled to take resolute measures, should the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence” “provoke us, force our hands or even cross the red line.”
Xi made the remarks while stating China’s principled position on the Taiwan question at a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.
Xi noted the new wave of tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and ascribed the tensions to the repeated attempts by the Taiwan authorities to look for U.S. support for their independence agenda as well as the intention of some Americans to use Taiwan to contain China.
“Such moves are extremely dangerous, just like playing with fire,” Xi said. “Whoever plays with fire will get burnt.”
The one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques are the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, Xi said, noting that previous U.S. administrations have all made clear commitments on this.
The true status quo of the Taiwan question and what lies at the heart of one China, Xi pointed out, are as follows: 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.
Calling achieving China’s complete reunification an aspiration shared by all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, Xi said, “We have patience and will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and efforts.”
“That said, should the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence’ provoke us, force our hands or even cross the red line, we will be compelled to take resolute measures,” Xi said.
Highlights on Climate Change
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that climate change can well become a new highlight of China-U.S. cooperation as both countries are transitioning to green and low-carbon economy.
Xi made the remarks during a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.
He reiterated that China will make the world’s biggest cut in carbon emission intensity in the shortest time frame in history, a task that will require extraordinary efforts.
“China means what it says,” Xi said, pointing out that ecological conservation has become a household concept and social consensus in China.
Noting that China is still the largest developing country in the world, Xi said all countries need to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and strike a balance between addressing climate change and protecting livelihoods.
He called on developed countries to earnestly fulfill their historical responsibilities and due obligations and maintain policy consistency.
“What the world needs is less finger-pointing or blame game, but more solidarity and cooperation,” said Xi.
US no intention to conflict with China
US President Biden said US-China relations is the most important relations in the world. As two big powers of the world, both US and China should take the responsibility for their people. Both sides should have open, fair and frank dialogue to improve mutual understanding, ensure bilateral competition to be fair and healthy, but not to become a conflict.
美中关系是世界上最重要的双边关系。美中作为两个世界大国,对美中两国和世界人民都负有责任。双方应通过开诚布公和坦率对话,增进对彼此意图的了解,确保两国竞争是公平、健康的,而不会演变成为冲突。我赞同习近平主席所讲,历史是公正的,美中关系只能搞好,不能搞砸。中国在5000多年前就已经是一个大国。我愿明确重申,美方不寻求改变中国的体制,不寻求通过强化同盟关系反对中国,无意同中国发生冲突。美国政府致力于奉行长期一贯的一个中国政策,不支持“台独”,希望台海地区保持和平稳定。美方愿同中方相互尊重、和平共处,加强沟通,减少误解,以建设性方式妥处分歧,在美中两国利益一致的领域加强合作,共同应对新冠肺炎、气候变化等全球性挑战,让两国人民都能过上更美好的生活。应该鼓励我们的年轻一代更多接触,了解彼此文化,从而使这个世界变得更加美好。
I agree with President Xi that history is fair, US – China relations should only be good, but not bad. China had been a super power about 5000 years ago. I like to reiterate that the US will not seek to change China’s system, not seek to oppose China by strengthening allies relations, no intention to conflict with China. UN government is committed to long term one China policy, not to support Taiwan Independence, and hope to keep peace and stability around the Taiwan Straits. The US side is willing to adhere to mutual respect and peaceful co-existance with China, strengthening more communication and reduce misunderstanding, dealing with the differences in a constructive way, strengthening cooperation in common interest areas to jointly deal with global challenges such as Covid-19 and climate change and let people in both countries to enjoy a better life. We should encourage our young generation to have more contacts, understand each other’s culture and make the world even better.
The two sides held 3 hours virtual talks. This meeting was the third meeting after their previous telephone talks.
US-China relations became tense after the cold Alaska meeting between Chinese Central Party Foreign Affairs leader Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US State Secretary Blinken and State Security Advisor Sulliven.
Chinese side was very angry to hear that the US put up forward its policy towards China as cooperation in common interest area, Competition in certain area such as high-tech and trade and confrontation in certain areas.
It became more clear after that meeting that the US busily engaged in allies relations resumption, mobilizing its submarines and warships into south pacific regions and even more untolerable was to support Taiwan.
While the US accused China of pressing Taiwan, China felt the US was really interfering in China’s internal affairs. And it was indeed very obviously one after another to accuse China of this and that in Xinjiang and even encourage the allies to take the same steps.
But it seems all these actions taken are for one purpose, that is to ask China to buy American products to balance the trade. Bilateral relations relaxed very obviously after China promised to buy more LNG from the US and the two sides even reached agreements on climate issue in Glasgow.
As President Xi said, China has never invaded any country in history and will not in the future. China just like to develop its own nation and meet the people’s demands in life.
Analysts hold that China and US are also very much mutually complementary. China is rich in labor and well educated and skilled labor and has a big market. US infrastructure reconstruction will definitely need many factors which likely China can offer.
Again, belt and road initiative is not specially for America, but the idea can be used there too.
Since 2008 financial crisis, many people thought that China should not support the US, but that didn’t work because the two sides have cooperated very well for many years. China has tried all means to avoid economic crisis just to steadily develop forward.
The virtual summit today seems to make both sides happy and the world should be happy to see such a better Sino-US relations too.
Let’s forget the conflict and focus on development dealing with larger challenges facing mankind, that will be conducive to all countries and everyone.