Xi scopes out new China-U.S. relationship

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Catharine Drew Gilpin Faust, President of Harvard University, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2015. (Photo: Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday looked forward to his state visit to the United States in September, eager to develop a new style of relationship between the two major countries.

Xi was meeting with visiting Harvard President Drew Faust at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing when he recalled his talks with U.S. President Barack Obama in November last year when Xi outlined six priorities in relations with the United States.

"People-to-people and cultural exchanges play a positive role in promoting the China-U.S. ties and have become a major pillar supporting the bilateral relationship in a new era," Xi said during the meeting with Faust.

He said that the Chinese side valued cooperation with the United States on education and technology, praising the long and fruitful cooperation between Harvard and China.

During the meeting, Xi also briefed the guest on China's annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

For her part, Faust said educational exchanges and cooperation help enhance understanding between the U.S. and Chinese people and that Harvard would work with China's educational and technological sectors.