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The President: I'm very much looking forward to having
another discussion with President Xi,
and his delegation.
President Obama: This happens to be the 35th Anniversary
of the reestablishment
of formal relations between our two countries,
and I think that
we have made
incredible strides over these past several
decades, and I know that President Xi and I are
both committed to continuing to strengthen
and build a new model of relations
between our countries.
I want to, first of all, thank the President and
the First Lady of China for being such gracious
hosts when Michelle, Malia and Sasha first
arrived in China.
And they're still there.
They've seen the Great Wall;
they've seen the Terracotta Warriors.
And from my phone calls with them,
they're having an extraordinary time.
So I want to thank the President
for his outstanding hospitality towards my family.
And Michelle had an opportunity to meet with
a number of young people in China, and these kinds
of person-to-person ties are extremely important.
And she also played some table tennis,
although I think this was not the high-level Ping-Pong
diplomacy that we saw in the past.
(laughter)
Today, in addition to the important
work that we're going to be doing at the
Nuclear Security Summit, we'll have the opportunity
to discuss a wide range of issues that are of mutual
interest, including the denuclearization
of North Korea, situations surrounding climate
change, as well as world issues
like the situation in Ukraine.
And because of the numerous meetings and
fora that we've been able to establish, we're able
not only to work on those issues of mutual interest
and concern, but we're also able to work through
frictions that exist in our relations around
issues like human rights or dealing with maritime
issues in the South China Sea and in the Pacific
region in a way that's constructive and hopefully
will lead to resolutions and improved solutions
for all parties concerned.
We'll also have the opportunity to discuss
economic issues, which are a cornerstone
of our relationship, and the importance of our trading
relationship and making sure that we are both
abiding by the rules that allow us to create
jobs and prosperity in both of our countries.
I think it's fair to say that this bilateral
relationship has been as important as any bilateral
relationship in the world,
and we've made great strides.
I believe ultimately that by working together, that
China and the United States can help
to strengthen international law, respect for the
sovereignty of nations, and establish the kinds
of rules internationally that allow
all people to thrive.
And so I'm very much looking forward
to this conversation and to the interaction with President
Xi during the course
of this Nuclear Security Summit.
President Xi: (As interpreted.)
Mr. President, it's my great pleasure
to meet you again.
First of all, let me thank you for calling me
recently to express sympathy over the missing
Malaysia Airlines flight and
for instructing relevant U.S.
agencies to join the search for the missing
plane, and for sharing information
with the Chinese side.
I want to thank you for that.
Before departing Beijing, my wife and I met your
wife, Michelle, your mother-in-law,
Mrs. Robinson, and your two lovely daughters,
Malia and Sasha.
We had a very good conversation.
I know they've finished their tour
of Beijing and Xi'an and they're flying to Chengdu.
I'm sure it is a trip of friendship and exchange,
and this trip will be remembered for them
as a pleasant and memorable one.
When I was bidding farewell to Michelle
in Beijing, she asked me to formally convey
to you her best regards.
(laughter) Over the past year, you and I have
stayed in close communication through
meetings, phone calls, and exchange of letters.
We have arrived at a series of important
points of consensus, and made important
and positive progress in our bilateral relationship.
We are now in the 35th year of formal diplomatic
relations between China and the United States.
We live in a complex world, and there
is greater space where China and the United States
are cooperating and where we need
to and can work with each other.
I have received and carefully read
your recent letter to me, Mr. President.
In the letter you said that you remain committed
to building the new model of major
country relations with China.
You also said that China-U.S.
cooperation can help to advance our two countries'
common interests, and we can address common
challenges through practical cooperation.
I appreciate these statements.
I wish to emphasize that China is firmly committed
to the set direction of building a new model
of major country relations.
We are committed to our position
of no confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect,
and win-win cooperation with regard
to the United States.
We'll adopt a more positive attitude and more
vigorous actions to strengthen cooperation
with the United States, and also to effectively
manage our differences and sensitivities
and make sure the China-U.S.
relationship will continue to move forward
in a healthy and steady fashion.
We will soon go into our meeting;
just now you mentioned some issues,
which might come up in our meeting.
It is like a menu, and a rich one at that.
I hope through this meeting we can further
deepen our communication and exchange.
President Obama: Thank you, everybody.