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Qin Gang Meets with US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns

2023-05-08 14:15

On May 8, 2023, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in Beijing.

Qin Gang said that the China-US relationship is of great significance not only for both countries but also for the world. In November last year, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a successful meeting in Bali and reached important common understandings. However, a series of erroneous words and deeds by the US side since then have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of the China-US relationship. The agenda of dialogue and cooperation agreed upon by the two sides has been disrupted, and the bilateral relationship has once again encountered a freeze. The pressing task is to stabilize the China-US relationship, avoid a spiral decline, and prevent any unexpected incidents between China and the US. This should be the most fundamental consensus between China and the US, as well as a bottom line that must be upheld in the interaction between countries, especially between two major countries. China will remain committed to handling the China-US relationship in line with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping. China hopes that the US will do some soul-searching and work with China in the same direction to bring the China-US relationship out of dilemmas and get back on the right track.

Qin Gang said that the US should correct its perception of China, and reinstate a rational policy toward China. Likening the China-US relationship as a shirt, Qin Gang stressed the need to fasten the first button correctly and contribute to each other’s success in the two countries' respective better development. The US should not talk about communication while continuously suppressing and containing China. The US must not say one thing but do the opposite. The US must respect China’s bottom lines and red lines, and stop damaging China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests. In particular, the US must handle the Taiwan question in the right way. It must stop hollowing out the one-China principle, and stop supporting and conniving at “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. In handling unexpected incidents in the bilateral relationship, a calm, professional, and pragmatic attitude must be adopted to avoid further impacts on the China-US relationship. The two countries should advance dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocity. Harmony without uniformity, harmonious co-existence, and respective and collective prosperity are what the two countries should work together for their relationship and the world. Qin Gang expressed his hope that Ambassador Burns will conduct more engagements and exchanges and engage in thoughtful reflection in China, serve as a bridge between China and the US, and make constructive efforts.

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