Xi, Obama exchange views on bilateral ties, Ukraine over phone

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama exchanged views Monday on bilateral ties and the Ukrainian situation in a telephone conversation.

"I met with President Obama twice last year and we reached a series of important consensus to lift the building a new type of major-country relationship to a new stage," said President Xi.

China is ready to work with the United States to build the new model of major-country relationship, respecting and accommodating each other's core interests and major concerns, and enhancing dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation to achieve a sustainable and healthy development of Sino-US relations, Xi said.

"I'm looking forward to the next meeting with Obama in the near future, and I welcome the upcoming visit of Michele Obama to China," Xi said.

For his part, Obama said that the China-US relationship has developed positively since he met with Xi at his Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands.

The United States hoped that the two countries would score new achievements on the cooperation in major issues, as this year marked the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Obama said.

"I'm also expecting to meet with President Xi soon, and my wife is looking forward to her visit to China," he added.

Meanwhile, Obama briefed Xi on US stance about the Ukrainian situation.

Stressing China's objective and fair stance on Ukraine, Xi said, given the complexity of the Ukrainian situation, it was very important for all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint, to avoid the escalation of the crisis.

Urging political and diplomatic means to solve the crisis, Xi said China hoped that all parties concerned would tackle their differences through communication and coordination

China has adopted an open attitude towards any proposals and suggestions that could help ease the tensions in Ukraine and was willing to keep in touch with the United States and other relevant parties on the issue, Xi added.