Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st L) pose for a photo with U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd R) and First Lady Melania Trump in the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the United States, April 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
by Xinhua writers Zhu Lei, Zhou Xiaozheng, Qi Zijian
PALM BEACH, United States, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The conspicuous first meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump has set a constructive tone for the development of China-U.S. relationship.
From the ice-breaking visit by Richard Nixon in Beijing in 1972, China-U.S. relationship has evolved considerably over the years. The Xi-Trump talks, which came on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations, were considered as a new starting point for China-U.S. relationship.
The meeting, anticipated by the Chinese and American peoples, endowed strategic and historic significance to bilateral relations.
The solemn statement of Xi that "There are a thousand reasons to make the China-U.S. relationship work, and no reason to break it" is both forceful and exciting.
The over seven hours' in-depth tete-a-tete between Xi and Trump during Xi's two-day trip helped to foster a sound working relationship and personal friendship between the two leaders.
Coincidentally, both leaders used the wording of "good" to grade their talks. Xi underlined deepening understanding of each other and enhancing mutual trust, while Trump said, "Tremendous goodwill and friendship was formed."
The efficient, smooth and cordial meeting between the top leaders of the two countries have played a unique role in advancing bilateral ties in the interest of the two peoples.
Xi pointed out that cooperation is the only right choice for China and the United States, calling on the two countries to bake a bigger cake of cooperation.
Speaking of the responsibility the two nations should assume as major countries, Trump said Washington and Beijing should maintain communication and coordination on important issues and can make major achievements together.
Only by sticking to cooperation could China and the United States bring tremendous dividend to the two peoples and serve as an important cornerstone for global peace and development.
A four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanism was established at the Mar-a-Lago meeting, setting the course for future cooperation. The two sides initiated the comprehensive economic dialogue and the diplomatic and security dialogue, which make up the mechanism along with the law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue and the social and cultural issues dialogue.
What's equally important is that the intention to set up a cooperative priority list and the consensus on managing differences based on mutual respect will facilitate early harvest.
The Mar-a-Lago talks bespeak again the strategic composure, political resolve and diplomatic wisdom of the Chinese leader at a critical moment of developing bilateral relations. Only by adopting a long-term perspective would China and the United States promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
Xi's statement calling on China and the United States to fulfill their historical responsibility for promoting world peace and stability also resonate. The responsibilities and wisdom displayed at the Mar-a-Lago meeting will undoubtedly leave an important and distinct mark in history.
