Quotable quotes on China's major-country diplomacy: Major-country relations

Editor's Note: China is rolling out a major documentary series on its diplomatic principles, practices and achievements over the past five years. The English-language version of the program will soon be available on TV and online. To help the audience better understand Chinese diplomacy, Xinhua is releasing a variety of reports that include anecdotes, quotable quotes, facts and figures.

The following is a selection of remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and others about China's relations with major countries.

Xi Jinping, Chinese President

"There is no such thing as the so-called Thucydides trap in the world. But should major countries time and again make the mistakes of strategic miscalculation, they might create such traps for themselves."

"We want to deepen mutual understanding with the US on each other's strategic orientation and development path. We want to see more understanding and trust, less estrangement and suspicion, in order to forestall misunderstanding and miscalculation." (Speech on China-US relations at a welcoming dinner in Seattle, the United States, Sept 22, 2015)

Xi Jinping, Chinese President

" ... the vast Pacific Ocean has enough room to accommodate the development of the two major countries, namely China and the United States." (In meeting with former US President Barack Obama, at Annenberg Retreat, California, the United States, June 7, 2013)

Xi Jinping, Chinese President

"For that, we need to build four bridges for peace, growth, reform and progress of civilization, so that the China-EU (European Union) comprehensive strategic partnership will take on even greater global significance." (Speech at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, April 1, 2014)

Xi Jinping, Chinese President

"Now China the lion has awakened, but it is a peaceful, amicable and civilized lion." (Speech at the meeting commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations, Paris, France, March 27, 2014)

Vladimir Putin, Russian President

"Mr Xi Jinping devotes much of his personal attention to the development of Russia-China relations. He is a very good friend and a reliable partner." (Moscow, June 23, 2016)