China, US officials pave way for first Xi-Obama summit in early June

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with U.S. National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon in Beijing, capital of China, May 27, 2013. <Xinhua/Yao Dawei>

Chinese President Xi Jinping met U.S. National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon on Monday, forecasting that his upcoming talks with U.S. President Barack Obama will feature discussions on important and strategic issues.

“I look forward to meeting with President Obama in California in earlier June,” Xi said at the start of his meeting with Donilon.

Xi thanked his guest for coming to Beijing to “prepare for my meeting with President Obama.”

The Xi-Obama summit, the first face-to-face meeting between China and the United States’s presidents since both nations carried out their most recent leadership transitions, is scheduled for June 7-8 in Rancho Mirage, California.

Xi told Donilon that China-United States relations are now at an important stage connecting the past and the future.

He recalled a telephone discussion with President Obama on the day Xi was elected president of China, saying they reaffirmed their commitment to developing Chinese-U.S. cooperative relations and exploring a new type of relationship between big powers.

Xi called on both countries to take into account the fundamental interests of the two nations and the world and jointly pursue a path that is unprecedented and inspires future generations.

For the upcoming summit, Xi said he and Obama will broadly and deeply discuss “important strategic issues of common concern” so as to deepen understanding, enhance mutual trust, accumulate consensus and promote cooperation.

“I am convinced that with joint efforts the summit will make important positive progress and inject new vitality into bilateral relations,” Xi said, adding that the summit will benefit the two nations, promote peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, the Pacific region and the world.

Donilon said the Obama-Xi summit will be an important opportunity for the two countries to discuss bilateral relations and regional and global issues facing both countries.

Obama has reaffirmed his firm commitment to “building a United States-China relationship with higher-level practical cooperation, higher-level trust, and managing whatever differences and disagreements arise between the two countries,” according to Donilon.

Stressing that the United States and China share extensive common interests, he said a positive and constructive bilateral relationship will work for both countries and the world.

The national security adviser said the United States will work with China to make good preparations to ensure the summit is a success.

During his three-day stay in Beijing, Donilon is scheduled to have a series of discussions with Chinese officials with responsibilities ranging from diplomacy to military affairs.

Earlier on Monday, Donilon held talks with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, who pledged all-out preparations for the summit.

On Tuesday, Donilon will meet senior military leader Fan Changlong. <Xinhua/Newsis>