On September 3, 2016, President Xi Jinping met with President Barack Obama of the US, who was in China for the G20 Hangzhou Summit, at the West Lake State Guesthouse in Hangzhou. Both heads of state exchanged candid and in-depth views on China-US relations and major international and regional issues of common concern in a friendly atmosphere, reaching a series of important consensus.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 44 years ago, it was at the West Lake State Guesthouse where leaders of China and the US reached the Shanghai Communiqué, commencing the historic process of the normalization of China-US relations. Since our meeting at the Annenberg Estate in 2013, with joint efforts, the construction of a new model of major-country relations between China and the US has achieved substantial results. Bilateral trade volume, two-way investment and the number of personnel exchanges have set new record highs. Both countries have gained important progress in areas such as tackling climate change, pushing forward negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty, establishing the mutual trust mechanism between the two militaries, countering cybercrimes, responding to the Ebola epidemic in Africa and reaching the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. These results amply demonstrate the strategic significance and global influence of China-US relations, and fully show that common interests between China and the US far outweigh the differences. China-US cooperation could accomplish many significant things beneficial to both countries and the world.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the US should firmly stay on the right direction of the development of bilateral relations, adhere to the principle of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation as well as manage and control differences in a constructive way, so as to promote the sustained, sound and stable development of China-US relations.

Xi Jinping stated that China appreciates the US for coordinating with and supporting China in hosting the G20 Hangzhou Summit. It is the common expectation of the international community and the due responsibility of China and the US, as the two largest economies in the world, to make the summit a success. China stands ready to work with the US and other sides to ensure fruitful results from the summit so as to inject impetus into and restore confidence in the world economy.

Xi Jinping stressed that the long-term positive fundamentals of China’s economy have not changed. China will uphold the keynote of seeking progress in stability in macroeconomic policies and make steady headway in supply-side structural reform. China will firmly adhere to the direction of reform and opening-up and further ease restrictions on foreign investment. China welcomes enterprises around the world to invest and start businesses in China and will continue to provide a sound business environment for them. It is hoped that China and the US can join hands and strive for a mutually-beneficial and win-win bilateral investment treaty at an early date.

Xi Jinping pointed out that cooperation in tackling climate change has become a highlight in China-US relations. Both countries have once again made significant contributions to the international community’s joint response to this global challenge by taking the lead in ratifying the Paris Agreement, jointly handing over the instruments to the UN Secretary-General and completing the peer review report on fossil fuel subsidies under the G20 framework. Both sides should continue to expand practical cooperation in fields such as energy conservation and emission reduction, clean energy, smart power grid, green port and low-carbon city.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the US should actively expand practical cooperation between the two militaries, as well as in anti-corruption, law enforcement, cyberspace security, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, local affairs, UN peacekeeping missions and other areas.

Both heads of state exchanged views on issues where they disagree with each other and agreed to manage and control these differences in a constructive way. Xi Jinping expounded China’s principles and stance on the Taiwan issue, Tibet-related issues, human rights issues and others, stating that China will staunchly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolutely curb any form of “Taiwan independence” secessionist activities, make efforts to maintain the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and strive for the peaceful reunification of the country. The US is expected to abide by the One-China policy and principles stipulated in the three China-US joint communiqués and maintain the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the big picture of China-US cooperation with practical actions. It is hoped that the US can honor its commitments to China on Tibet-related issues by not supporting any anti-China separatist activities carried out by the “Tibet independence” force. China attaches great importance to the protection and promotion of human rights, and protects Chinese citizen’s religious freedom in accordance with the law. China’s progress in human rights cause is obvious. China is willing to conduct dialogues and exchanges regarding human rights with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect, but we are against any country using human rights issues to intervene in China’s internal affairs.

In regard to the South China Sea issue, Xi Jinping pointed out that China will continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea while insisting on settling disputes through peaceful consultations and negotiations with parties directly concerned, so as to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea with ASEAN countries. It is hoped that the US can play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

With respect to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Xi Jinping stressed that China always adheres to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, sticks to safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula as well as insists on resolving issues through dialogue and consultation. All parties should avoid taking any action that will escalate tensions on the peninsula and should jointly make positive efforts to turn the situation around. China opposes the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system by the US in the Republic of Korea, and asks the US to truly respect China’s strategic security interests.

Barack Obama stated that he is glad to meet with President Xi Jinping again in Hangzhou, a significant city in the history of US-China relations, and continue exchanging views on the extensiveness and deep potential of US-China relations. The US welcomes China’s contributions to the global development and peacekeeping undertakings. Today, the US and China have taken the lead in approving and accepting the Paris Agreement, which once again demonstrates the influence of bilateral cooperation. Glad to see the steady progress in bilateral exchanges in such areas as energy, science and education, the US is willing to work with China to carry out law enforcement cooperation in cracking down transnational crimes and other aspects, discuss the establishment of a stronger relationship with China in economy, trade and investment, and strengthen cooperation with China in more extensive areas including promoting regional and global security.

Barack Obama noted that with regard to the Taiwan issue, the US pursues the One-China policy without any change and opposes any practice of seeking “Taiwan independence”. The US acknowledges that Tibet is a part of China. US-China relations should ensure that both countries can conduct fruitful cooperation in areas where both interests coincide and at the same time, manage and control related problems in areas where the two sides disagree to avoid affecting bilateral relations. He is willing to, together with President Xi Jinping, lay a good foundation for the future development of US-China relations.

Both sides also exchanged in-depth views on other major global and regional issues. Both sides believed that China and the US share extensive common interests in Asia-Pacific affairs. Both sides should continue to enhance communication and cooperation as well as properly manage and control disparities. Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation on relevant regional hotspot issues and global challenges, and together with the international community, advance the proper settlement of related issues, so as to play a positive role in promoting world peace, stability and prosperity.

Wang Huning, Wang Yang, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi, US Secretary of State John Kerry, US Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew, US President’s National Security Advisor Susan Rice and others attended the meeting.