Xi urges US-China military dialogue and warns against confrontation

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for closer communication with the United States, warning that both countries would lose from conflict and confrontation.

Xi said during his US visit, according to the Guardian, “Our two militaries should maintain regular dialogue.”

He said Washington and Beijing must “hold the line of no conflict”, adding that the countries “stand to gain from cooperation and will both lose in conflict”.

“We should co-exist in peace,” he said, arguing that competition between the two powers should remain within clear boundaries.

Xi also announced plans to invite 100,000 American students to China over the next five years for study and exchange programmes.

The Chinese leader said two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, would arrive at Zoo Atlanta in the coming days, continuing China’s long history of so-called panda diplomacy.

Xi said China and the US “shoulder a historic responsibility to promote human progress” and expressed willingness to work with US President Donald Trump to “steer the ship of China-US ties”.

“We should strengthen communication,” Xi said, adding that “candid, in-depth, sustained dialogue can promote understanding and mutual trust.”

Xi also said he and Trump had developed “personal rapport” and mutual respect.