Xi Jinping says China, US should be partners, not rivals

China and the United States should be partners, not rivals, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday in a written speech upon his arrival in the United States for a state visit.

Xi is visiting the country from September 23 to 25 at the invitation of US President Donald Trump.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were warmly welcomed by Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews in a rare planeside welcome.

In his speech, Xi said that China and the US are both great countries, and the two peoples are both great peoples.

Noting that the two peoples have maintained friendly exchanges for a long time and their interests are deeply intertwined, Xi said that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, complement each other and benefit the world.

During Trump's visit to China in May, the two heads of state agreed to build a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability, which provided strategic guidance for the future development of bilateral ties.

Xi said that China and the US should work in the same direction, promote a stable relationship featuring cooperation as the mainstay, moderate competition, manageable differences and promises of peace.

He voiced confidence that China and the US, as two major countries, can find a right way to get along in the new era.

Xi said that despite the changes of the times, the historical logic of peaceful coexistence between China and the US has not changed.

He said he looks forward to in-depth exchanges with Trump on major issues concerning bilateral ties and the global situation, enriching the constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability, and engaging extensively with people from all walks of life in the US to deepen friendship.

Xi added that with joint efforts, his US visit is sure to be fruitful.