China, US exchange views ahead of Obama's visit

Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi (L) and US Secretary of State John Kerry speak to reporters prior to a meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, the United States, Oct. 18, 2014. Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi said on Saturday that China is willing to work with the United States to make proper preparations for the upcoming visit to China by US President Barack Obama so that it can yield positive results. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and US Secretary of State John Kerry had an in-depth exchange of views on a wide range of issues Saturday ahead of US President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to China.

Their discussions mainly focused on the two countries' preparations for Obama's visit early next month, when the president will also attend the informal leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Beijing.

China is willing to work with the United States to make proper preparations for the visit so that it can yield positive results, Yang told Kerry in the US city of Boston.

CHINA-US TIES

On the relations between China and the US, Yang saluted "new and positive progress" that has been made in various aspects of bilateral ties since last year's summit held by Obama and President Xi at the Annenberg Estate in California, where the two leaders reached important consensus on a new model of major-country relations featuring non-conflict and non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

The senior Chinese official said China welcomes Obama's visit and is willing to work with the US side to make sure that the upcoming Xi-Obama summit will achieve positive results, so as to further push forward the construction of the new model of major-country relations.

China and the US should strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual strategic trust, deepen cooperation and properly handle differences, Yang said.

He added that in order to ensure the healthy and stable development of China-US ties and make positive efforts together to maintain regional and world peace, stability and development, both sides need to turn the principles of seeking a relationship based on non-conflict and non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation into practical actions.

At the same time, he said, China and the US also need to strengthen mutual communication and coordination to make sure that the upcoming APEC summit will achieve expected results in advancing the process of regional integration.

Yang called on the two countries to increase mutual cooperation in Asia-Pacific affairs and promote regional stability and prosperity.

For his part, Kerry said there are many areas in which the US and China can cooperate in the future.