China and the United States met for high-level talks yesterday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping urging the world's two biggest economies to break old patterns of confrontation.
Given their different histories and cultures "it is natural that China and the US may have different views and even frictions on certain issues", Xi told the opening of the two-day annual talks in Beijing.
"This is what makes communication and cooperation even more necessary," he urged. This year marks 35 years since the establishment of formal US-China ties.
The sixth Strategic and Economic Dialogue comes as tensions have risen in recent months -- racked by maritime disputes between China and its neighbours as well as US fears over cybersecurity and Chinese hacking.
"Our interests are more than ever interconnected," Xi insisted, saying the two "stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation".
"If we are in confrontation it will surely spell disaster for both countries and for the world," he said, adding the Pacific powers needed to "break the old pattern of inevitable confrontation".
In a statement sent to the opening of the meetings, US President Barack Obama agreed, saying: "The United States and China will not always see eye-to-eye on every issue."
That was "why we need to build our relationship around common challenges, mutual responsibilities, and shared interests, even while we candidly address our differences", Obama said.
Obama, who has made the so-called pivot to Asia a focus of his administration, will return to Beijing in November when it hosts a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.
Kerry, who is leading Washington's team with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, earlier sought to address Chinese concerns that the US was seeking to rein in the country, insisting "the United States does not seek to contain China".
Given their different histories and cultures "it is natural that China and the US may have different views and even frictions on certain issues", Xi told the opening of the two-day annual talks in Beijing.
"This is what makes communication and cooperation even more necessary," he urged. This year marks 35 years since the establishment of formal US-China ties.
The sixth Strategic and Economic Dialogue comes as tensions have risen in recent months -- racked by maritime disputes between China and its neighbours as well as US fears over cybersecurity and Chinese hacking.
"Our interests are more than ever interconnected," Xi insisted, saying the two "stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation".
"If we are in confrontation it will surely spell disaster for both countries and for the world," he said, adding the Pacific powers needed to "break the old pattern of inevitable confrontation".
In a statement sent to the opening of the meetings, US President Barack Obama agreed, saying: "The United States and China will not always see eye-to-eye on every issue."
That was "why we need to build our relationship around common challenges, mutual responsibilities, and shared interests, even while we candidly address our differences", Obama said.
Obama, who has made the so-called pivot to Asia a focus of his administration, will return to Beijing in November when it hosts a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.
Kerry, who is leading Washington's team with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, earlier sought to address Chinese concerns that the US was seeking to rein in the country, insisting "the United States does not seek to contain China".
