Making joint efforts toward meeting between Chinese, U.S. presidents in San Francisco a top priority: Chinese Ambassador to the U.S.

(ECNS) – The top priority for China and the U.S. is to make joint efforts toward a meeting between the two presidents in San Francisco by removing disruptions and creating an enabling environment, said Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng via video at the Hong Kong Forum on China-U.S. Relations 2023 held in Hong Kong on Thursday.

“The theme of the forum this year ‘Change and Progress’ is highly relevant in the context of the current international situation and China-U.S relations. It reflects the vision and courage to foster new opportunities amid crises and open up new horizons on a shifting landscape,” Xie said.

“As China-U.S. relations suffered from serious difficulties in the past few years and hit the lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic ties, there has also been a growing call for stopping the downward spiral,” the ambassador said.

“To our encouragement, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden, and with joint efforts of both sides, we have seen some positive signs of a more stable China-U.S. relationship recently. The two sides have conducted a series of high-level interactions. All these have together sent out a positive signal of stabilizing China-U.S. relations,” he added.

“Both sides believe that it is beneficial and necessary for our two countries to maintain dialogue; both share the hope to stabilize and improve bilateral relations as soon as possible, and both agreed to work together toward a meeting between the two Presidents in San Francisco,” Xie noted.

Xie pointed out that while the two countries do have differences, their common interests are not to be dismissed. “We should and must expand the list of cooperation through dialogue, and manage differences and disagreements,” he said.

Xie also noted that he felt it more acutely that the foundation and hope of the China-U.S. relationship lie in the people; its future lies in the youths, and its vitality comes from the sub-national level. “It is heartwarming to see more friends who cherish China-U.S. friendship and support our relations coming out, speaking up and pitching in,” Xie added.