Since you assumed the presidency, we have maintained communication via video conferences, phone calls, and letters. But none of them can really substitute for face-to-face exchanges. And today, we finally have this face-to-face meeting.
From the initial contact and the establishment of diplomatic relations to today, China and the United States have gone through 50-plus eventful years. We have gained experience, and we’ve also learned lessons. History is the best textbook, so we should take history as a mirror and let it guide the future.
Currently, the China-U.S. relationship is in such a situation that we all care a lot about it, because this is not the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples and it is not what the international community expects us.
As leaders of the two major countries, we need to chart the right course for the China-U.S. relationship. We need to find the right direction for the bilateral relationship going forward and elevate the relationship.
政治家要思考和明确的就是本国的发展方向，但同时也要明确思考同世界、同他国的相处之道。
A statesman should think about and know where to lead his country. He should also think about and know how to get along with other countries and the wider world.
Well, in this time and age, great changes are unfolding in ways like never before. Humanity are confronted with unprecedented challenges. The world has come to a crossroads. Where to go from here – this is a question that is not only on our mind but also on the mind of all countries.
The world expects that China and the United States will properly handle the relationship. And for our meeting, it has attracted the world’s attention. So, we need to work with all countries to bring more hope to world peace, greater confidence in global stability, and stronger impetus to common development.
In our meeting today, I’m ready to have a candid – as we always did – have a candid and in-depth exchange of views with you on issues of strategic importance in China-U.S. relations and on major global and regional issues. I look forward to working with you, Mr. President, to bring China-U.S. relations back to the track of healthy and stable growth to the benefit of our two countries and the world as a whole.