REMARKS AT ARRIVAL CEREMONY ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE

REMARKS AT ARRIVAL CEREMONY ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE

September 25, 2015

Mr President and Mrs Obama,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends, 

My wife and I are very pleased to come to the beautiful city of Washington D.C. in this golden autumn season. I wish to thank you, Mr President, for your kind invitation and gracious hospitality. I also wish to convey to the American people the warm regards and best wishes of over 1.3 billion Chinese people.

China and the United States are two great countries with two great peoples. Since China and the United States established diplomatic relations 36 years ago, our relationship has overcome difficulties and forged ahead, making historic advances.

At our Sunnylands meeting in the summer of 2013, President Obama, you and I made the strategic decision to build a new model of major-country relations. More than two years have passed, and we have made important progress in cooperation and exchanges in various areas, to the warm welcome of the people of our two countries and the world at large.

By working together, China and the United States can make a greater difference than by working alone. In an evolving global landscape, we need to keep pace with the times and build on positive momentum to continue growing our relationship. I am visiting the United States to promote peace and advance cooperation. We hope to work with the United States to further grow China-US relations and deliver greater benefits to the people of our two countries and the world.

– We should remain committed to building a new model of major-country relations, and ensure that our relationship is one of peace, respect, and cooperation and that it continues to grow in a healthy and stable way.

– We should strengthen strategic trust and mutual understanding, respect each other’s interests and concerns, handle our differences and disagreements with a broad-minded approach, and strengthen our people’s confidence in China-US friendship and cooperation.

– We should pursue mutually beneficial cooperation, create new forms of cooperation, broaden the scope of our cooperation, and bring more benefits to the people of our two countries and the world with concrete actions and the fruits of cooperation.

– We should forge close friendly ties and promote interaction between our peoples, encourage various sectors in our societies to stay closely engaged, and consolidate the social foundations of China-US relations.

– We should promote world peace and development, improve coordination on major international and regional issues, make concerted efforts to address global challenges, and work with other countries to build a better world.

Thirty years ago, during my first visit to the United States, I stayed with an American family in Muscatine, Iowa. My hosts were so warm, sincere, and friendly. We had pleasant conversations, and when time came for me to leave we hugged each other tightly. To this day, those moments are still fresh in my mind. Three years ago, I went back to Muscatine and had a great reunion with my old friends there, and they talked to me about the importance of friendship. These and many other American friends epitomize the genuine friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. We do share each other's feelings. This gives me every confidence about the future of our relations. 

Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,

Determined efforts will lead to a great future. China-US relationship has now reached a new starting point in the 21st century, and the pursuit of mutually beneficial cooperation is the sure way for our relationship to grow. Let us join hands and work with resolve to write a new chapter in China-US relationship.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)