Wang Yi Meets with Delegation from the Senate of the Congress of the United States

 Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a visiting delegation from the Senate of the Congress of the United States (U.S.) led by Senator Steve Daines in Beijing.

Wang Yi noted that this visit, the first by a bipartisan U.S. senatorial delegation since President Donald J. Trump took office, carries important symbolic significance. He expressed the hope that through this visit, the delegation will gain a firsthand understanding of the new momentum of China’s development, build new bridges for communication, explore new areas of cooperation, and inject fresh impetus into the stable, sound, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

Wang Yi said that China-U.S. relations bear on the well-being of the two peoples and global stability. China’s policy toward the United States is consistent. Our two countries should take mutual respect as the foundation, peaceful coexistence as the principle, and win-win cooperation as the goal, so as to explore the right way for major countries to get along and jointly contribute to world peace and stability. Over the past year and more, President Xi Jinping and President Donald J. Trump have had multiple phone calls and meetings, helping to steer the direction of bilateral relations at critical moments. China is willing to work with the United States to jointly implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state. This will enable China-U.S. relations to truly stabilize and improve, benefiting both countries and the world at large.

Wang Yi said that the key to truly finding the right way for the two major countries to get along lies in continuously addressing mutual misperceptions, just like putting right the first button of a shirt. China and the United States have different social systems and development paths, both of which originate from their respective histories and cultural heritages and are the choices of their own peoples. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “All living creatures can grow in harmony without harming one another.” We should jointly seek “harmony without uniformity” and act as partners, not rivals. China will not follow the obsolete model of a country seeking hegemony when growing stronger. It will remain committed to peaceful development and stay firmly on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He expressed the hope that the U.S. side will view China objectively, develop a rational perception of China, earnestly respect China’s core interests, properly manage differences, and work together to accomplish more major, practical, and positive things for both countries and the rest of the world, sending more positive and constructive messages to the international community.

The U.S. delegation members shared their impressions of China and their views on the development of U.S.-China relations. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.