Xi says U.S. and China can only be adversaries or companions, with no middle floor

BEIJING — The U.S. and China have to opt for in between getting adversaries or associates, Chinese President Xi Jinping instructed American company executives late Wednesday.

His remarks distinction with the Biden administration’s strategy of pursuing strategic competition with Beijing — restricting exports of innovative U.S. tech to China, even though seeking for areas of cooperation.

Xi was speaking at a evening meal in San Francisco following his assembly with U.S. President Joe Biden a couple hours earlier, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation convention.

“I have often had a person query on my thoughts: How to steer the big ship of China-U.S. relations distinct of hidden rocks and shoals, navigate it through storms and waves devoid of receiving disoriented, getting rid of pace or even getting a collision?” Xi reported, in accordance to an English-language readout of his Mandarin-language speech.

“In this regard, the quantity a person concern for us is: are we adversaries, or associates? This is the fundamental and overarching challenge,” he explained.

“The logic is fairly straightforward. If a single sees the other facet as a main competitor, the most consequential geopolitical problem and a pacing danger, it will only direct to misinformed policy generating, misguided steps, and undesired outcomes,” Xi mentioned.

“China is prepared to be a husband or wife and friend of the United States,” he explained. “The essential principles that we abide by in handling China-U.S. relations are mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and gain-get cooperation.”

Just about 400 enterprise leaders — together with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon — government officials, U.S. citizens and lecturers attended the meal, hosted by the U.S.-China Business Council and the Nationwide Committee on U.S.-China Relations.

U.S Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo shipped remarks ahead of Xi’s deal with.

In a roughly 30-minute speech, Xi reported China-led international initiatives these kinds of as the Belt and Road are open up to U.S. participation, even though Beijing is all set to sign up for U.S.-proposed multilateral cooperation initiatives.

“No subject how the international landscape evolves, the historical pattern of tranquil coexistence in between China and the United States will not alter,” Xi claimed.

Regarding before conversations with Biden, Xi explained “we agreed to make the cooperation listing lengthier and the pie of cooperation more substantial.”

Xi reported China is ready to invite 50,000 younger Us citizens to study in the Asian place about the upcoming 5 decades.

He also claimed China would send its big pandas to the San Diego Zoo. He did not specify a time.

Last week, the remaining 3 pandas in the U.S. on bank loan from Beijing returned to China owing to an expiring deal. China has lent pandas to nations around the world all-around the globe as a diplomatic resource.

Xi’s speech was titled “Galvanizing Our Peoples into a Strong Force For the Bring about of China-U.S. Friendship.”

“It is completely wrong to see China, which is fully commited to tranquil enhancement, as a threat and consequently perform a zero-sum sport from it,” Xi said. “China never ever bets towards the United States, and under no circumstances interferes in its inner affairs.”

“China has no intention to challenge the United States or to unseat it. As an alternative, we will be happy to see a assured, open up, ever-increasing and affluent United States,” he mentioned. “Also, the United States must not guess towards China, or interfere in China’s interior affairs. It should as a substitute welcome a tranquil, secure and prosperous China.”

— CNBC’s Christina Wilkie and Eamon Javers contributed to this report.