Beijing, May 14 (AseanAll) — On the evening of May 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcoming banquet for U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The Great Hall of the People was adorned with dazzling lights. The two heads of state delivered their toasts respectively.
Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. The over 1.4 billion people of China, drawing on the rich heritage of our over-5,000-year civilization, are advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development. This year is also the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The over 300 million American people are reinvigorating the spirit of patriotism, innovation and enterprise, and ushering in a new journey for the development of the United States. The peoples of China and the United States are both great peoples. Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand. We can help each other succeed and advance the well-being of the whole world.
Xi Jinping noted that 55 years ago, “Ping-Pong diplomacy” was carried out between our two countries. The door that had remained frozen for over 20 years was opened, marking a milestone in contemporary international relations. From then on, China and the United States have written many chapters of friendship through mutual opening up to each other and cooperation. In this new era, President Trump and I have had multiple meetings and phone calls and kept China-U.S. relations generally stable. We both believe that the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We must make it work, and never mess it up. Both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Our two countries should be partners rather than rivals. President Trump and I also agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, and bring more peace, prosperity and progress to the world.
Chinese President pointed out that looking back at the course of China-U.S. relations, whether or not we could have mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the key to whether the relationship can advance steadily. China-U.S. relations concern the well-being of the over 1.7 billion people of both countries, and affect the interests of the over eight billion people of the world. Both sides should rise up to this historic responsibility and steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations forward steadily and in the right direction.
President Trump thanked President Xi for the gracious reception accorded to him. He noted that today is a fantastic day, this visit is an important one, and the two sides had positive and constructive conversations. The American and Chinese peoples share mutual appreciation and respect, and their friendship goes back a long way. U.S.-China relations are the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world. Together the two countries have a chance to create a better future for the world.
Chinese premier Li Qiang attended the banquet.
