On February 13 local time, Vice President Xi Jinping who arrived in Washington DC for an official visit to the US met with former US Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, former assistants to the president for national security affairs Brent Scowcroft, Zbigniew Brzezinski and Samuel Berger and former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.

Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Tung Chee-hwa was also present.

Xi spoke highly of their major contributions to the development of China-US relations in different periods during their tenure. He said the purpose of his visit is to further implement the important consensus President Hu Jintao reached with President Obama during Hu's visit to the US January last year and promote China-US cooperative partnership. He hopes to make some active and effective efforts to enhance China-US strategic mutual trust, expand pragmatic cooperation and deepen friendship between the people through his visit.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China and the issuance of Shanghai Communiqué. Over the past 40 years, the significant development of China-US relations has far exceeded the expectation of the most optimistic people then. Under the current complex and fluctuating international situation, it is more urgent and important than ever for China and the US to cooperate and coordinate with each other. To build the China-US cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit is the strategic decision made by the two heads of state based on the common strategic interests of both countries and on their objective judgment about the world situation. China and the US should follow the direction specified by the two heads of state, take into account the immediate needs while taking a long-term perspective, ensure the stable and solid progress of the cooperative partnership and maintain the stable development momentum of bilateral relations.

He raised four points of view on how to build the China-US partnership. First, take history as a mirror. Four pieces of historical experience of China-US relations have been accumulated over the past 40 years: common interests of both countries are the endogenous motivation; the three China-US joint communiqués are the institutional guarantee; mutual understanding and strategic trust are the important prerequisite; the pioneering spirit of progressing with the times are the driving force. Such experience deserves to be cherished and followed.

Second, take a high and long-term perspective. To build the China-US cooperative partnership is a great attempt of forging relations among major powers in the world today and has critical influence on the well-being of the Chinese and American people and the future of the world. The US presidential election will take place this year. He believes the insightful American people will not want to leave any regrettable "sequelae" of the election on China-US relations.

Third, respect and trust each other. China unswervingly follows the road of peaceful development. China's desire of developing relations with the US is magnanimous, sincere and consistent. He hopes that the US views China objectively and rationally, takes tangible actions beneficial to enhancing the mutual trust and particularly handles issues involving China's core interests prudently and properly.

Fourth, build mutual benefit. China-US trade volume last year exceeded US$ 440 billion, which reflects the essential mutually beneficial nature of the bilateral economic and trade cooperation. As to the problems of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, we should handle differences and frictions through positive and constructive ways in the spirit of mutual benefit.

Kissinger and other former American politicians extended warm welcome to Xi. They believe his visit will achieve full success. They noted that Xi's visit has great significance to the future bilateral relations. The US Democratic and Republican Parties hold different political views but usually recognize the importance of US-China relations unanimously. The bilateral relations at present stand in a new historical starting point. Faced with an increasingly complex and challenging world, it is crucial for the US and China to strengthen cooperation. The two countries should faithfully follow the spirit of the joint statement issued by both sides when President Hu Jintao visited the US last year, step up dialogue, increase understanding and mutual trust, expand bilateral cooperation at the global level and in multiple areas, properly handle new problems and new challenges and continuously inject vigor and vitality into the bilateral partnership. It is beneficial to both US and China and the world at large.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi who accompanied Xi during the visit as well as Minister of Education Yuan Guiren, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu and Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao who were paying the working visit to the US also attended the meeting.