KEY POINTS
- Xi condoles with Biden over Jimmy Carter’s death.
- Carter’s efforts laid the foundation for dialogue and collaboration between the two nations.
- Xi reiterates the need for sound, stable, and sustainable China-US relations.
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday told US President Joe Biden that the relationship between their two countries was “one of the most important” in the world, state media reported.
“China is ready to work with the US side to focus on the fundamental interests of their people and meet the common expectations of the international community, and advance China-US relations along the right track of sound, stable and sustainable development,” state run Xinhua news agency reported Xi as saying in a condolence letter, following the death of former US president Jimmy Carter.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Joe Biden that he was “deeply saddened” by the death of former US president Jimmy Carter, state media reported Monday.
Carter “had long made significant contributions to advancing the development of China-US ties and fostering friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries”, state broadcaster CCTV reported Xi as saying in a message of condolence to Biden.
Washington’s diplomatic links with the People’s Republic of China were formally launched in January 1979.
Xi Jinping said China is ready to work with the US side to focus on the fundamental interests of their people and meet the common expectations of the international community, and advance China-US relations along the right track of sound, stable and sustainable development.
In his message, Xi said, “Former US president Jimmy Carter was a promoter and decision-maker in the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations.” Xi said, quoted by Xinhua, adding he “deeply regrets the former president’s passing”.
Xi said that Carter had long contributed to the development of China-US bilateral ties, as well as the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
Carter normalised relations with Beijing as the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping initiated reforms that led to unprecedented economic growth.
In the same year, Deng met Carter in the United States.
Carter did not visit China during his presidency, but he made trips either side of his time in the White House.
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The former president first travelled to China as a young naval officer in 1949.
He visited the country in 1981, shortly after leaving office, meeting Deng and then-premier Zhao Ziyang in Beijing in 1987 and returned to China in 1991.
Carter visited again in July 1997, including several days in a small village in the eastern province of Shandong.
Carter’s legacy in China-US relations remains influential, having laid the groundwork for the enduring cooperation and dialogue that continues between the two nations today.
The US and China are engaged in a strategic competition that spans multiple domains, from trade and technology to military and geopolitical influence.
Communication between the two powers, at any moment, is beneficial for stabilizing bilateral relations and for conveying positive energy and certainty to the world.
