On the evening of September 24 local time, President Xi Jinping had a heads-of-state meeting with President Barack Obama of the US at the Blair House, Washington D.C.

On the afternoon of September 24, Xi Jinping appeared in the White House at the invitation of Barack Obama shortly after his arrival in the US capital Washington D.C. Barack Obama gave him a warm welcome at the gate. Then, the two heads of state walked along the Pennsylvania Avenue to the Blair House. They had a conversation while walking. Barack Obama expressed his warm welcome to Xi Jinping for his state visit to the US. Xi Jinping noted that I am very glad to pay a state visit to the US and my trip in Seattle was pleasant and fruitful. I look forward to exchanging in-depth views with you during the state occasions in Washington D.C. on bilateral relations and topics of common interest and push for more consensus and results.

The breeze was light and the moon was bright. The Blair House in the night was tranquil and quiet. The two heads of state had a three-hour meeting during which they exchanged in-depth views on major issues of common concern such as governance and administration of state affairs and the China-US relations. US officials including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry attended the meeting.

Xi Jinping pointed out that when meeting in the Annenberg Estate in June, 2013, we reached the significant agreement of building a new model of China-US major-country relationship with joint efforts. During your state visit to China last November, we held another long talk at Yingtai. Such in-depth communication helps chart the course for and injects impetus to the development of China-US relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that the reform and opening-up policy constitutes China's basic state policy as well as the fundamental impetus for China's future development. China will never close its door to the world. In the future, foreign companies that invest and conduct business in China will enjoy a more open, free and transparent environment. For China, the path of peaceful development is a strategic choice based on our objective assessments of the past, the present and the future. Meanwhile, we will firmly safeguard our sovereignty, security and interests of development.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China is a participant, builder, contributor and beneficiary of the current international system To reform and improve the current international system does not mean to start all over again but rather to push it to develop towards a more just and reasonable direction. The initiatives of the "Belt and Road" and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) proposed by China are all open, transparent and inclusive projects which will help relevant countries develop economy, increase employment and alleviate poverty. We welcome the active participation of relevant parties including the US.

Barack Obama expressed that the US welcomes the peaceful rise of China. A stable and prosperous China not only meets the interests of the Chinese people but also the interests of the US and the international community. The US and China have conducted successful cooperation in addressing climate change and jointly assisted the African people in fighting against the Ebola epidemic, setting examples of bilateral sides joining efforts in coping with global challenges. As the world is moving to multi-polarization, emerging countries like China should obtain more right to speak and be better represented in the international system. The US expects China to play a more significant role in the world.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the US should strengthen high-level strategic mutual trust. I have said for many times that the Pacific Ocean is large enough for both China and the US to develop. To achieve the China-US relations featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation is a priority of China's diplomatic policy. Since our meeting at the Annenberg Estate, the China-US relations have obtained important and positive progress. The two sides have launched the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) negotiation and the volume of bilateral trade and mutual investment hit another record high last year. We have established two mutual trust mechanisms between the two armies, set up a schedule for visa reciprocity, issued a joint statement on climate change, worked together to cope with the Ebola epidemic in Western Africa and cooperated to push the Iranian nuclear issue for a comprehensive agreement. These achievements are results of China-US concerted efforts, receiving not only applauses from the two peoples but also universal welcome from the international community.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the US do have some disagreements, but seen from the overall picture of the China-US relations, the common interests significantly outweigh the disparities. Bilateral cooperation will always be the mainstream. Facts have well proven that building a new model of major-country relationship between China and the US is an absolutely correct and vibrant goal toward which the two sides should make unwavering efforts with one step at a time. In the next stage, the two countries should continue to increase high-level exchanges, actively expand cooperation, properly resolve divergences and strengthen guidance on public opinions, so as to maintain the sound development momentum of the China-US relations and lay a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations over a longer term in the future.

Barack Obama noted that he disagrees with the "Thucydides trap" theory which indicates that an established power will inevitably clash with an emerging power. Major countries, especially the US and China, should try their best to avoid conflict. He believes that the US and China are capable of managing and controlling differences. The competition between the US and China should be constructive and positive as well.

The two heads of state will hold talks on September 25 to further exchange views.

Yang Jiechi and others attended the above-mentioned activity.