US, China to avoid 'miscalculations'

Xi to Blinken: We should be partners, not rivals

BEIJING Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told top US diplomat Antony Blinken that the world's two biggest economies should be "partners, not rivals," but that there were a "number of issues" to be resolved in their relations.

Blinken, in China for the second time in less than a year, earlier in the day met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other leading politicians here.

Meeting Blinken in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xi said the two countries had "made some positive progress" since he met with US President Joe Biden last year, according to state broadcaster CCTV. "The two countries should be partners, not rivals." Blinken said he raised concerns with Xi about China's support for Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, as well as other issues including Taiwan and the South China Sea, human rights and the production and export of synthetic opioid precursors.

Blinken sounded a positive note on recent progress made in bilateral cooperation, including in military communications, counternarcotics and artificial intelligence, on which the two sides agreed to start a dialogue on how to reduce risks from the rapidly emerging technology.

"We are committed to maintaining and strengthening lines of communication to advance that agenda, and again deal responsibly with our differences so we avoid any miscommunications, any misperceptions, any miscalculations," he said.

But he stressed that "even as we seek to deepen cooperation, where our interests align, the United States is very clear-eyed about the challenges posed by (China) and about our competing visions for the future.

America will always defend our core interests and values." Xi said, "There are still a number of issues that need to be resolved, and there is still room for further efforts." "We hope the US can also take a positive view of China's development," he added.