Xi says U.S. and China can only be adversaries or partners, with no middle ground
BEIJING — The U.S. and China have to choose between being adversaries or partners, Chinese President Xi Jinping told American business executives late Wednesday.
His remarks contrast with the Biden administration's approach of pursuing strategic competition with Beijing — restricting exports of advanced U.S. tech to China, while looking for areas of cooperation.
Xi was speaking at a dinner in San Francisco following his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden a few hours earlier, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.
«I have always had one question on my mind: How to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations clear of hidden rocks and shoals, navigate it through storms and waves without getting disoriented, losing speed or even having a collision?» Xi said, according to an English-language readout of his Mandarin-language speech.
«In this respect, the number one question for us is: are we adversaries, or partners? This is the fundamental and overarching issue,» he said.
«The logic is quite simple. If one sees the other side as a primary competitor, the most consequential geopolitical challenge and a pacing threat, it will only lead to misinformed policy making, misguided actions, and unwanted results,» Xi said.
«China is ready to be a partner and friend of the United States,» he said. «The fundamental principles that we follow in handling China-U.S. relations are mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.»
Nearly 400 business leaders — including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon — government officials, U.S. citizens and academics attended the dinner, hosted by the U.S.-China Business Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.
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