Deputy Chief of Mission Xie Feng visited Princeton University and delivered a speech on China's domestic and foreign policies and the China-US relations.
Minister Xie gave a comprehensive introduction on China and its development. He pointed out that China is a highly unified country but with great diversity. It has made remarkable progress in the past 30 years of reform and opening up, but is still facing multiple challenges in building a moderately prosperous society in an all round way. It is not only a participant in the international system, but also an important contributor. All this underscores the diversity of China and the unique and arduous journey of development it has embarked on.
Minister Xie expounded on China's philosophy and policy of peaceful development by reviewing the three stages of China's development, i.e. establishing a modern state, developing a modern economy and building a modern society. He emphasized that China is endeavoring to build a harmonious society domestically and promote a world of harmony externally. China commits itself to world peace, stability and development.
Minister Xie reviewed the history of China-US relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He commended the good start in bilateral relations in the first year of the Obama administration. In the meantime, he stressed that the China-US relations have encountered some difficulties due to reasons known to all and this does not serve the interests of both sides. Both sides should bear in mind the larger picture of China-US relations, understand, respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns so as to get China-US relations out off difficulties and back on the track of positive, cooperative and comprehensive development at an early date.
Minister Xie underscored the principled position of the Chinese side on the question of Taiwan and Tibet related issues. He stressed that the question of Taiwan bears on the core interests of the Chinese side and touches on the national sentiment of the Chinese people. It is hoped that the US side could put itself into other's shoes, appreciate, support and respect the common aspirations of the Chinese people, adhere to the one China policy, abide by the three joint communiqués and the China-US Joint Statement and take concrete actions with full sincerity in order to remove the obstacles that have for long impeded the bilateral relations.
Minister Xie explained the mutually beneficial nature of China-US economic and trade relations. He pointed out that as China-US business ties continue to grow, it is unavoidable to see some differences and disputes. The key is that the two sides need to seek proper solutions through dialogue and consultation based on equality and mutual benefit. Finger-pointing, applying pressure and taking protectionist measures should not be an option . What is least desirable is to politicize economic and trade issues.
Citing the statistics regarding the changes in RMB's exchange rate and in the bilateral trade balance, Minister Xie pointed out that RMB exchange rate is not the key to solving the trade imbalance or the domestic employment problem in the United States.
Minister Xie also answered questions regarding the path of socialist development with Chinese characteristics, China's population policy, the environment for foreign businesses in China, China's military modernization, the peaceful reunification between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, China-US trade imbalances, Google, China's visa policy for US citizens, China-India relations, the Korean nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue and climate change.