China, US should be partners, not rivals: Xi arrives in Washington for Trump talks

Washington: Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and the United States should be “partners, not rivals” as he arrived in Washington on Wednesday, expressing confidence that the two countries could manage their differences and expand cooperation.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. A US Air Force band performed on the tarmac as American and Chinese flags flew.

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In a written statement on arrival, Xi said the interests of the two countries were deeply intertwined and that their respective national ambitions could advance together, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the goal of making America great again could go hand in hand, Xi said, adding that the two countries could help each other succeed and contribute to global well-being.

The visit, Xi’s first to Washington since 2015, is expected to feature discussions on trade tariffs, technology, artificial intelligence and military ties. Conflicts in West Asia, the Russia-Ukraine war, competition in space and US arms sales to Taiwan are also expected to figure in the talks.

Xi said he and Trump had agreed during the US president’s visit to China in May to build a constructive relationship centred on strategic stability. That understanding, he said, had provided direction for bilateral ties.

Calling for cooperation to remain the mainstay of the relationship, Xi urged both sides to keep competition moderate and differences manageable.

Despite changes in the global environment, he said, the case for peaceful coexistence, goodwill between the two peoples and international expectations of stable China-US ties remained unchanged.

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Xi said he looked forward to detailed discussions with Trump on bilateral relations and global developments, as well as exploring opportunities for cooperation across sectors. He also expressed a desire to engage with different sections of American society to strengthen people-to-people ties.

Joint efforts could make the visit fruitful, improve the well-being of both populations and support world peace, he added.

The Chinese delegation includes senior Communist Party leader Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and director of the party’s General Office, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

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