By Jaime Ortega.
The president of China, Xi Jinping, and the president of United States, Barack Obama, met last night and announced the birth of “a new model of relations” between the two leading world powers to avoid conflict and rivalry that, in the past, have pushed the great powers to tension or war.
Xi expressed hope that the enormous Pacific Ocean that stands between China and the United States is large enough to accommodate the two great nations. Meanwhile Obama said his country “welcomes China’s peaceful rise to be continued as a world power.” “Indeed,” he added, “The U.S. wants China to continue on its path of success. A stable and prosperous China is not only good for China but is good for America “.
At the summit held in the stunning setting of Sunnylands resort, in the city of Rancho Mirage, on California in the desert, the two leaders have begun a two-day meeting trying to set the tone for a future relationship.
Obama and Xi appeared before the press without a tie, spent the night in the same hotel, dined together and continue the talks on Saturday. All that, well protected from the 40 degree heat present in the region.
Aware of the importance of this meeting, Xi, visited Washington last year when he was vice president,and noted that “the whole world is watching”, and promised to make every effort to obtain agreements that give harmony to bilateral relations and international stability.
Speaking to reporters during their meeting on Friday, the two presidents announced that they would discuss a range of issues of common interest, from North Korea to the economy, including the most controversial of his current agenda: China U.S. accusations to the Internet espionage. Obama mentioned that will also refer to the need to respect human rights in China.
Obama said the meeting will help the two leaders to have “more informal conversations in which we are able to share our vision to build a relationship of mutual interest and mutual respect”.
Xi confirmed the willingness to seek common ground. “Our two countries,” he said, “have a wide range of shared interests, from promoting economic growth in our societies and ensure the stability of the world economy to tackle various global challenges.”
The two presidents have scheduled another meeting starting at nine o’clock on Saturday and a new appearance before the press after the meeting.
