The Xi-Obama Meeting at Yingtai

Chinese President Xi Jinping had a candid, relaxed, and informal meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on the evening of November 11, 2014 at Yingtai, an island with ancient palace buildings within the Zhongnanhai compound. They discussed issues concerning Sino-US relations and other major global and regional issues of mutual concern. The two heads of state had a long, relaxed conversation while strolling at Yingtai. Xi told Obama about the history and anecdotes of Yingtai. The DNA of traditional Chinese culture is, in Xi's words, embedded in contemporary Chinese thinking and in the governance strategies of the Chinese government. Diverging national contexts of the two countries with regard to history, culture, development paths, and stages of development, he noted, underscore the importance of mutual understanding, mutual respect, and tolerance for differences in the search for common ground and lasting peace. In response Obama acknowledged that the talk had enabled him to gain a better insight into China's realities and the governance philosophy of the Chinese government and its leaders, and a better understanding of the aspirations of the Chinese people for national unity and stability. Debunking the notion that the United States seeks to contain China, he reiterated his willingness to have a candid dialogue with China so as to foster mutual understanding, and welcomed China as a constructive player in international affairs in the shared endeavor to address global challenges and promote peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The talk at Yingtai, a continuation of the opennecked informal summit at the Annenberg Retreat in California, represented another innovative diplomatic engagement at the most senior level between China and the United States. The event helped both sides foster mutual trust and better gauge each other's intentions at a strategic level, and further demonstrated the imperative for both governments to work towards a new model of major-country relationship.

瀛臺會晤

2014年11月11日晚，中國國家主席習近平同美國總統奧巴馬在北京中南海瀛臺就中美關系及共同關心的重大國際和地區問題，進行了坦誠、輕松的非正式會晤。兩國元首以瀛臺漫步的輕松形式展開了長時間的會晤。習近平借古喻今，向奧巴馬講述了古老瀛臺的歷史由來。他說，當代中國人的思維、中國政府的治國方略，浸透著中國傳統文化的基因。中美國情各異，歷史文化、發展道路、發展階段不同，應該相互理解，相互尊重，聚同化異，和而不同。奧巴馬總統對此回應道，會談加深了他對中國的國情以及中國政府和領導人執政理念的了解，更加理解中國人民為何珍惜國家統一和穩定，美國無意遏制或圍堵中國，愿意同中方坦誠溝通對話，增進相互了解，歡迎中國在國際事務中發揮建設性作用，愿同中方攜手應對各種全球性挑戰，共同促進亞太和世界和平與安全。瀛臺會晤是繼中美兩國元首在美國加州安納伯格莊園舉行“不打領帶”的非正式會晤后，中美首腦外交的又一創新安排，有利于雙方在戰略層面理解彼此意圖，增進戰略互信，展現了中美兩國致力于構建中美新型大國關系的決心。

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