Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday said Washington and Beijing should 'cooperate with sincerity' as the two sides opened formal talks at the White House.
The Chinese president said competition between the two nations should be healthy and within bounds. "It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses," he asserted.
This is Xi's second state visit to the US, during which Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House.
"We should cooperate with sincerity," said Xi during his meeting with the US president. "The interests of China and the United States are deeply intertwined, and there is plenty of room for us to work together."
While Xi admitted that cooperation between the US and China could not solve every problem in the world, he pointed out that many global issues would be difficult to resolve without Washington and Beijing being on the same page.
Following Xi's statement, Trump hailed the "truly great friendship" he forged with his Chinese counterpart since his first term began in 2016. "From the time of my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people," he said.
Referring to fighting as allies during World War II, Trump said, "Just as our people worked together to win that war, President Xi and I will continue working together to forge a better future for both of our nations."
