China's readout of Xi-Biden video call

News of the Day

The news of Friday night (in China):

President Xi Jinping Has a Video Call with US President Joe Biden

On the evening of 18 March, President Xi Jinping had a video call with US President Joe Biden at the request of the latter. The two Presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations, the situation in Ukraine, and other issues of mutual interest.

President Biden said that 50 years ago, the US and China made the important choice of issuing the Shanghai Communiqué. Fifty years on, the US-China relationshiphas once again come to a critical time. How this relationship develops will shape the world in the 21st century. Biden reiterated that the US does not seek a new Cold War with China; it does not aim to change China’s system; the revitalization of its alliances is not targeted at China; the US does not support “Taiwan independence”; and it has no intention to seek a conflict with China. The US is ready to have candid dialogue and closer cooperation with China, stay committed to the one-China policy, and effectively manage competition and disagreements to ensure the steady growth of the relationship. President Biden expressed readiness to stay in close touch with President Xi to set the direction for the US-China relationship.

President Xi noted the new major developments in the international landscape since their first virtual meeting last November. The prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges. The world is neither tranquil nor stable. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world’s two leading economies, China and the US must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility.

President Xi stressed that he and President Biden share the view that China and the US need to respect each other, coexist in peace and avoid confrontation, and that the two sides should increase communication and dialogue at all levels and in all fields. President Biden has just reiterated that the US does not seek to have a new Cold War with China, to change China’s system, or to revitalize alliances against China, and that the US does not support “Taiwan independence” or intend to seek a conflict with China. “I take these remarks very seriously,” said President Xi.

President Xi pointed out that the China-US relationship, instead of getting out of the predicament created by the previous US administration, has encountered a growing number of challenges. What’s worth noting in particular is that some people in the US have sent a wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” forces. This is very dangerous. Mishandling of the Taiwan question will have a disruptive impact on the bilateral ties. China hopes that the US will give due attention to this issue.The direct cause for the current situation in the China-US relationship is that some people on the US side have not followed through on the important common understanding reached by the two Presidents and have not acted on President Biden’s positive statements. The US has misperceived and miscalculated China’s strategic intention.

President Xi underscored that there have been and will continue to be differences between China and the US. What matters is to keep such differences under control. A steadily growing relationship is in the interest of both sides.

The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine.

President Biden expounded on the US position, and expressed readiness for communication with China to prevent the situation from exacerbating.

President Xi pointed out that China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine to come to this. China stands for peace and opposes war. This is embedded in China’s history and culture. China makes a conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter. China advocates upholding international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations. China adheres to the UN Charter and promotes the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. These are the major principles that underpin China’s approach to the Ukraine crisis. China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and is ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and other affected countries. All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and negotiation that will produce results and lead to peace. The US and NATO should also have dialogue with Russia to address the crux of the Ukraine crisis and ease the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine.

President Xi stressed that with the need to fight COVID-19 on the one hand and protect the economy and people’s livelihood on the other, things are already very difficult for countries around the world. As leaders of major countries, we need to think about how to properly address global hotspot issues and, more importantly,keep in mind global stability and the work and life of billions of people. Sweeping and indiscriminate sanctions would only make the people suffer. If further escalated, they could trigger serious crises in global economy and trade, finance, energy, food, and industrial and supply chains, crippling the already languishing world economy and causing irrevocable losses. The more complex the situation, the greater the need to remain cool-headed and rational. Whatever the circumstances, there is always a needfor political courage to create space for peace and leave room for political settlement. As two Chinese sayings go, “It takes two hands to clap.” “He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off.” It is imperative that the parties involved demonstrate political will and find a proper settlement in view of both immediate and long-term needs. Other parties can and should create conditions to that end. The pressing priority is to keep the dialogue and negotiation going, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and cease hostilities as soon as possible. An enduring solution would be for major countries to respect each other, reject the Cold War mentality, refrain from bloc confrontation, and build step by step a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture for the region and for the world. China has been doing its best for peace and will continue to play a constructive role.

The two Presidents agreed that the video call is constructive. They directed their teams to promptly follow up and take concrete actions to put China-US relations back on the track of steady development, and make respective efforts for the proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Ding Xuexiang, Liu He and Wang Yi were present at the call. (End)

sourced from the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s official website

***

In Chinese

习近平同美国总统拜登视频通话

新华社北京3月18日电国家主席习近平18日晚应约同美国总统拜登视频通话。两国元首就中美关系和乌克兰局势等共同关心的问题坦诚深入交换了意见。

　　拜登表示，50年前，美中两国作出重要抉择，发表了“上海公报”。50年后的今天，美中关系再次处于关键时刻，美中关系如何发展将塑造21世纪的世界格局。我愿重申：美国不寻求同中国打“新冷战”，不寻求改变中国体制，不寻求通过强化同盟关系反对中国，不支持“台独”，无意同中国发生冲突。美方愿同中方坦诚对话，加强合作，坚持一个中国政策，有效管控好竞争和分歧，推动美中关系稳定发展。我愿同习近平主席保持密切沟通，为美中关系把舵定向。

　　习近平指出，去年11月我们首次“云会晤”以来，国际形势发生了新的重大变化。和平与发展的时代主题面临严峻挑战，世界既不太平也不安宁。作为联合国安理会常任理事国和世界前两大经济体，我们不仅要引领中美关系沿着正确轨道向前发展，而且要承担应尽的国际责任，为世界的和平与安宁作出努力。

　　习近平强调，我和总统先生都赞同中美要相互尊重、和平共处、避免对抗，都同意双方在各层级各领域要加强沟通对话。总统先生刚才又重申，美方不寻求打“新冷战”，不寻求改变中国体制，不寻求通过强化同盟关系反对中国，不支持“台独”，无意同中国发生冲突。对于你的这些表态，我是十分重视的。

　　习近平指出，目前，中美关系还没有走出美国上一届政府制造的困境，反而遭遇了越来越多的挑战。特别是美国一些人向“台独”势力发出错误信号，这是十分危险的。台湾问题如果处理不好，将会对两国关系造成颠覆性影响。希望美方予以足够重视。中美关系之所以出现目前的局面，直接原因是，美方一些人没有落实我们两人达成的重要共识，也没有把总统先生的积极表态落到实处。美方对中方的战略意图作出了误读误判。

　　习近平强调，中美过去和现在都有分歧，将来还会有分歧。关键是管控好分歧。一个稳定发展的中美关系，对双方都是有利的。

　　双方就当前乌克兰局势交换意见。

　　拜登介绍了美方的立场，表示愿同中方沟通，防止事态升级。

　　习近平指出，乌克兰局势发展到这个地步，是中方不愿看到的。中方历来主张和平，反对战争，这是中国历史文化传统。我们向来从事情本身的是非曲直出发，独立自主作出判断，倡导维护国际法和公认的国际关系基本准则，坚持按照联合国宪章办事，主张共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观。这些大的原则是中方处理乌克兰危机的立足点。中方已经提出了关于乌克兰人道主义局势的六点倡议，愿向乌克兰和受影响的其他国家进一步提供人道主义援助。各方应该共同支持俄乌对话谈判，谈出结果、谈出和平。美国和北约也应该同俄罗斯开展对话，解开乌克兰危机的背后症结，化解俄乌双方的安全忧虑。

　　习近平强调，当前，世界各国已经十分困难了，既要应对新冠肺炎疫情，又要保经济保民生。作为大国领导人，我们要考虑妥善解决全球热点问题，更要考虑全球稳定和几十亿人民的生产生活。实施全方位、无差别制裁，受罪的还是老百姓。如果进一步升级，还会引发全球经贸、金融、能源、粮食、产业链供应链等发生严重危机，使本已困难的世界经济雪上加霜，造成不可挽回的损失。形势越是复杂，越需要保持冷静和理性。任何情况下都要拿出政治勇气，为和平创造空间，为政治解决留有余地。中国有两句老话，一句是“一个巴掌拍不响”，另一句是“解铃还须系铃人”。关键是当事方要展现政治意愿，着眼当下，面向未来，找到妥善解决办法，其他方面可以也应当为此创造条件。当务之急是继续对话谈判，避免平民伤亡，防止出现人道主义危机，早日停火止战。长久之道在于大国相互尊重、摒弃冷战思维、不搞阵营对抗，逐步构建均衡、有效、可持续的全球和地区安全架构。中国一直在为和平尽力，将继续发挥建设性作用。

　　两国元首认为，此次视频通话是建设性的，责成两国工作团队及时跟进，采取实际行动，争取中美关系重返稳定发展的轨道，为妥善解决乌克兰危机作出各自的努力。

　　丁薛祥、刘鹤、王毅等参加上述活动。（完）

sourced from the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s official website

***

Beijing took the unusual step of releasing part [Chinese] [English] of its readout when the video meeting was still ongoing (at around 22:07 GMT+8). Beijing later said the meeting ended at 22:52 GMT+8.

On the evening of 18 March, President Xi Jinping is having a video call with US President Joe Biden at the request of the latter.

President Xi noted the new major developments in the international landscape since their first virtual meeting last November. The prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges. The world is neither tranquil nor stable. The Ukraine crisis is not something we want to see. The events again show that countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield. Conflict and confrontation are not in anyone’s interest, and peace and security are what the international communityshould treasure the most. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world’s two leading economies,wemust not only guide the China-US relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder our share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility.

习近平指出，我们去年11月首次“云会晤”以来，国际形势发生了新的重大变化。和平与发展的时代主题面临严峻挑战，世界既不太平也不安宁。乌克兰危机是我们不愿意看到的。有关事态再次表明，国家关系不能走到兵戎相向这一步，冲突对抗不符合任何人的利益，和平安全才是国际社会最应珍惜的财富。作为联合国安理会常任理事国和世界前两大经济体，我们不仅要引领中美关系沿着正确轨道向前发展，而且要承担应尽的国际责任，为世界的和平与安宁作出努力。

***

Shen Yi, of Fudan University, at that time, commented on Weibo that

领导人通话内容要点几乎同步发布。极为罕见。结合此前匿名官员在会谈前表态，中方对美方操弄信息做法极为不满。 Some main points of the leaders' video call were released almost simultaneously. It is extremely rare. Combined with earlier statements by an anonymous official before the talk, China is extremely dissatisfied with the U.S. side's manipulation of information.

***

What Shen was referring to was apparently the Global Times’ exclusive report [Chinese] [English] quoting an anonymous Chinese official hours before the video meeting:

Not surprisingly, before the phone talk, some US officials have intensively made irresponsible remarks and spread disinformation to smear China and pressure it over the Ukraine issue. Such deeds have become “common practices” of the US before high-level interactions, which are irresponsible and immoral, said the official. 

China will never accept US threats and coercion, and if the US takes measures that harm China's legitimate interests and the interests of Chinese enterprises and individuals, China will not sit idly by and will make a strong response, the official stressed, noting the US should not have any illusions or miscalculations about this. 

***

The anonymous Chinese official was apparently responding to remarks such as those by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to the press on Saturday, March 17, where he said

We believe China in particular has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the international rules and principles that it professes to support.

Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn this aggression while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter – and we’re concerned that they are considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine.

President Biden will be speaking to President Xi tomorrow and will make clear that China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia’s aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.

***

Shortly before the Global Times’ exclusive report [Chinese] [English], Zhao Lijian, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson already said pretty the same in the Regular Press Conference on Friday, March 18, 2022

Some people on the US side keep spreading false information and smearing and pressuring China. Such practices are extremely irresponsible and do not help to solve the problem. China firmly opposes this and will never accept it. What the US should do is to seriously reflect on its role in the Ukraine crisis and the part it has played, effectively assume its due responsibilities, and take practical actions to ease the situation and solve the problem, instead of continuing to add fuel to the fire and shifting problems.

Regarding your question on the talk between the Chinese and US leaders, the heads of states are in communication in various forms. As for the upcoming one, I believe you have read China’s press release. Chinese President Xi Jinping will exchange views with US President Joe Biden upon invitation on China-US relations and issues of common concern. 

As for the specifics about this exchange, we suggest you follow the information to be released in due course.