Washington urged to preserve improved ties

China's top envoy to the United States has called on Washington to work with Beijing to preserve hard-won improvements in relations and implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during their May summit in Beijing.

"The most important thing now is to take concrete actions to faithfully implement the common understandings reached between the two presidents, translate the new vision of a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability into real actions, and keep expanding the list for cooperation while shortening the list of problems," Xie Feng, Chinese ambassador to the US, said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a reception at the Chinese embassy in the US marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, Xie said the two countries have "every obligation to pursue dialogue and cooperation, and no single reason for conflict or confrontation".

He said that during their summit in Beijing, the leaders made clear that the two countries will work toward a relationship with cooperation as the mainstay, competition within proper limits, manageable differences, an expectable peace, and explore the right way to get along in the new era.

As the world's two largest economies, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and nuclear-weapon states, the two countries share a special responsibility for maintaining world peace and stability and advancing global development and prosperity, he said.

"It needs to be noted that the stabilizing and improving momentum in China-US relations has not come easily, and should be doubly cherished," Xie said.

Xie's remarks echoed the call made by Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 22 in Manila, the Philippines, their second encounter this year.

During the meeting, Wang noted that it is now the duty of both sides to "follow the course set by the two heads of state, eliminate disturbances and overcome obstacles", to ensure that the leaders' consensus is translated into whole-of-government consensus and action across all fields.

Last week, Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu traveled to Washington and held "in-depth exchange of views" with the US side on implementing the important consensus reached by the heads of state of China and the US, and advancing the building of a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability, according to a Foreign Ministry readout.

Despite the intensified exchanges, Washington has continuously overstretched the concept of national security to target Chinese businesses and institutions.

On Tuesday, citing national security, cybersecurity and supply-chain concerns, the Federal Communications Commission added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to its "Covered List", preventing such devices from receiving the equipment authorization required to be imported into and marketed in the US.

On July 23, the Pentagon added several Chinese research institutions to its so-called "list of foreign institutions engaging in problematic activities".

Xie said that China would "resolutely" safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests.

He identified four Chinese "red lines" that should not be challenged: Taiwan, democracy and human rights, path and system, and development rights.

Xie said that "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Taiwan Strait are "as irreconcilable as fire and water". He called on the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, and exercise "extra caution" in handling the Taiwan question.

Highlighting potential areas for cooperation, Xie said that Chinese advances in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and the low-altitude economy offer opportunities for global development.

He said artificial intelligence also poses governance, security and ethical challenges. China welcomes the US and other countries to participate in the China-initiated World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.

Xie said history and present-day realities show that the world is large enough for China and the US to develop and thrive together. With countries facing numerous global challenges, Washington and Beijing should fulfill their shared responsibilities for the global good, he said.

He urged the US to work with China to advance international cooperation through constructive engagement and promote world peace through bilateral strategic stability, "so as to jointly explore a right way to get along in the new era based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and make new contributions to human peace and development".

Alvaro Smith, US deputy assistant defense secretary, other officials, representatives from various sectors, foreign diplomats and military attaches posted in the US, as well as members of the overseas Chinese community attended Tuesday's reception.