Chinese FM urges enhancement of strategic trust with US

WASHINGTON - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Wednesday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, expressing the hope that the two sides will further enhance strategic trust and reduce misjudgment.

Noting that the common interests between China and the United States far outweigh their differences, Wang stressed that there are more and more fields in which the two countries could and should cooperate with each other.

As the world's largest developing country and largest developed country, he said, China and the United States need to work together to build a new type of major-country relationship featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

"This meets our common interests and the interests of the international community. It is also in line with the trend of human progress," he said.

Comparing the China-US relationship to a giant ship sailing on the sea, the foreign minister said it will not be a smooth sailing as there will be various risks and challenges on the voyage.

"It requires both sides to work jointly to keep the ship on the right course, keep injecting impetus for it to forge ahead, and at the same time, work together to properly handle hidden rocks and shoals," he said.

In the meantime, Wang said China attaches great importance to US President Barack Obama's trip to Beijing next month to attend the informal leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and pay a state visit.

He urged the two sides to work together to ensure the visit scores fruitful results in guiding the future development of China-US ties.

Wang suggested the two countries accelerate the negotiation on a bilateral investment treaty and make more arrangements for visa reciprocity so as to facilitate two-way investment and personal exchanges.

In addition, he noted that China is forging ahead an anti-corruption campaign and stands ready to enhance cooperation with the US side in criminal manhunt and illicit-money recovery, adding that the United States should not be a safe haven for corrupt officials.

On military cooperation, Wang stressed that the two sides should consolidate and expand the positive momentum of the development of their military ties and strive to establish a mutual notification mechanism on major military operations as well as a code of conduct on military security in international waters and space.

China and the United States, said Wang, should also enhance communication and cooperation in the fight against climate change and make it a new highlight of bilateral cooperation.

On the Ebola epidemic, he urged the two countries to bring their respective advantages into full play and make joint efforts in helping some Western African countries combat the epidemic.

In parallel, Wang said China supports the international community in strengthening cooperation on anti-terrorism and is willing to deepen cooperation with the US side in this regard.

On regional cooperation, he suggested the two countries jointly push for economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region.

For his part, Kerry extended his congratulations on the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, saying that his country welcomes a peaceful, prosperous and stable China and one that plays constructive and leading roles in international affairs.

Kerry said that the United States is firmly committed to building a new type of major-country relationship with China, and that the two sides "want to show a new model of relations in which we broaden our cooperation on the common interests and constructively manage those differences so that we can be as effective as possible."

In addition, he said Washington would never seek to contain China and its Asia-Pacific pivotal strategy is never targeted at China.

He added that Washington is willing to work with Beijing to make certain that Obama's upcoming China visit will be a success.

The top US diplomat urged the two countries to strengthen strategic communication, enhance cooperation in various fields and jointly face up to challenges brought by a range of international and regional issues such as climate change, terrorism, the Ebola epidemic, the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the nuclear issue of Iran, among others.

The two countries should mange and control their differences in a constructive manner, which will meet the interests of both sides, he added.