On March 31, 2016 local time, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang held a briefing for Chinese and foreign media at the press center of the Chinese delegation of the 4th Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), introducing the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama of the US.

Zheng Zeguang stated that this afternoon President Xi Jinping held a meeting with President Barack Obama at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The two heads of state exchanged candid and in-depth views on a wide range of issues of common concern and reached a series of important consensus. The meeting was positive, constructive and fruitful.

Zheng Zeguang expressed that both heads of state attach great importance to developing China-US relations and speak highly of the significant progress in bilateral relations in recent years. President Xi Jinping pointed out that it is a priority in China's diplomatic policy to strive to build a new model of major-country relationship with the US and realize non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. President Barack Obama stated that US-China relations are the most important bilateral relations around the world and it is hoped that the two sides will keep close cooperation to enable bilateral relations to move forward along a sustained and positive track. The two sides agreed to continue deepening practical cooperation as well as constructively managing and controlling differences so as to constantly promote the construction of the new model of major-country relationship between China and the US and better benefit peoples of the two countries and the world.

Zheng Zeguang briefed that the two sides exchanged views on the upcoming fourth NSS and made positive comments on bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear security. Both sides agreed to continue maintaining the international nonproliferation system, promoting international nuclear security cooperation and pushing this NSS for positive achievements. After the meeting, the two sides issued the China-US Joint Statement on Nuclear Security Cooperation.

The two sides highly affirmed bilateral cooperation in the field of climate change and believed that the two countries have played a crucial demonstration role in coping with such a global challenge as climate change for the international community. The two sides agreed to simultaneously sign the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016 and take respective domestic measures to participate in the agreement this year as soon as possible. The two sides also agreed to expand practical cooperation in the fields such as energy saving and emission reduction, clean energy, smart power grids and green ports. The two sides issued the third China-US Joint Statement on Climate Change at noon today.

The two sides discussed economic and financial issues and exchanged in-depth views on respective economic development, global economic governance, macro-economic and financial policy, cooperation under the G20 framework and other topics. President Xi Jinping reiterated that China will carry on proactive fiscal policy and expand domestic demand. President Barack Obama expressed that the US and China should strengthen cooperation and take actions to support global economic growth. The two sides believed that against the general background of current weak global economic growth and fluctuating international financial market, all countries should not stimulate export by competitive currency devaluation. China and the US should strengthen coordination in macro-economic policies and join hands with the international community to drive global economy for robust, sustainable and balanced growth. The two sides agreed to continue accelerating negotiations and strive for a mutually beneficial and win-win bilateral investment treaty at an early date. The two sides agreed to keep strengthening cooperation in future negotiations on the Environmental Goods Agreement, take each other's concerns into consideration, and promote to reach a result of balanced interests. China hopes the US to loosen restrictions on the export of high-tech civil products to China and provide convenience for Chinese enterprises to make investment in the US.

The two sides laid out exchanges at various levels in the next phase, agreed to ensure the success of the new round of institutional dialogues such as China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, and the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in fields including military, local affairs, counter-terrorism and law enforcement. The two sides spoke positively of the progress in bilateral cooperation in the field of cyberspace security, and decided to carry on the sound implementation of the consensus reached by both sides during President Xi Jinping's US visit last September, and make full use of the platforms such as China-US High-Level Joint Dialogue on Cybercrime and Related Issues to further strengthen cyberspace security cooperation and maintain it as a cooperation point of the two countries. The two sides will ensure the 2016 China-US Tourism Year a success and further expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges to lay a firm social foundation for China-US relations.

Zheng Zeguang said that the two sides also conducted candid communication on some sensitive issues in China-US relations, and agreed to manage, control and handle differences in a constructive way. President Xi Jinping expounded on China's principle and stance on the Taiwan issue, Tibet-related issues and others, and emphasized that the Chinese side will stick to the political foundation of the "1992 Consensus", and keep advancing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations while firmly curbing any form of separatist activity aiming at "Taiwan Independence." It is hoped that the US side will strictly abide by the One-China Policy, play a constructive role in the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and won't offer any support or convenience to the "Tibet Independence" forces in their anti-China and separatist activities. President Barack Obama said that the US will continue upholding the One-China Policy, handle relevant issues in a proper and prudent manner and support neither "Taiwan Independence" nor "Tibet Independence".

As for the South China Sea issue, President Xi Jinping pointed out that islands and reefs in the South China Sea have been China's territory since ancient times. China is entitled to uphold its own territorial sovereignty as well as lawful and legitimate maritime rights and interests. Meanwhile, the Chinese side is committed to maintaining the peace and stability in the South China Sea, and adheres to managing and controlling disputes through dialogues and resolving controversies peacefully through negotiations and consultations. China respects and safeguards every country's freedom of navigation and overflight in line with international laws. It is hoped that the US side will honor its promise of not taking sides in issues concerning sovereignty and territorial disputes and play a constructive role in safeguarding the regional peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Zheng Zeguang introduced that the two sides also exchanged in-depth views on major international and regional issues of common concern. In regard to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, President Xi Jinping stressed that China opposes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to develop nuclear weapons, and is dedicated to realizing denuclearization on the peninsula by peaceful means without creating chaos and wars. Relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council should be fully and completely implemented. It is hoped that all parties will make joint efforts to pull the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue back on the track of dialogues and negotiations at an early date, in order to achieve the long-term peace and order in the Northeast Asia. Both sides hold that they should actively interact with each other, boost cooperation and jointly maintain the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region where China and the US share the most converging interests. The two countries agreed to keep enhancing coordination and cooperation in a series of major international and regional issues and global challenges such as the Iranian nuclear issue, the Middle East issue, the Syrian issue, the Afghan issue, global health, development, peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, and to promote the proper settlement of relevant issues together with the international community, so as to make more contributions to the world peace, stability and development.

Both sides deem that the lasting, healthy and steady development of China-US relations is in conformity with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples. The two heads of state will keep close contacts in all kinds of ways. They look forward to meeting again during the G20 Hangzhou Summit this September and agree to jointly make the summit a success.