Chinese, U.S. presidents exchange views on bilateral ties, Ukraine over phone

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama exchanged views in a telephone conversation Monday on bilateral ties and the situation in Ukraine.

"I met with President Obama twice last year and we reached a series of important consensus to push for a new stage for building a new type of major-country relationship between China and the United States," said President Xi.

China was ready to work with the United States to build the new model of the major-country relationship, respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and enhance dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation, in a bid to achieve a sustainable and healthy development of the China-U.S. relations, Xi said.

"I'm looking forward to the next meeting with Obama in the near future, and I welcome the upcoming visit of Michelle Obama to China," Xi said.

For his part, Obama said that the U.S.-China relationship had developed positively since he met Xi at his Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands last year. The United States hoped that the two countries would score new achievements through cooperation on major issues, as this year marked the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, Obama said.

Obama said he was expecting to meet with President Xi soon and his wife was looking forward to her visit to China later this month. Meanwhile, Obama briefed Xi on the U.S. stance on the Ukrainian situation. Stressing China's objective and fair stance on Ukraine, Xi said, given the complexity of the Ukrainian situation, it was very important for all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint in order to avoid the escalation of the crisis. Urging a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis, Xi said China hoped that all parties concerned would tackle their differences through communication and coordination China had adopted an open attitude toward any proposals and suggestions that could help ease the tensions in Ukraine and was willing to keep in touch with the United States and other relevant parties on the issue, he added. President Obama expressed sympathies with the families of those aboard a Malaysian airliner that went missing on Saturday, and he said the United States was ready to work with China over search and rescue efforts.

Xi said China was also deeply concerned about the safety of the passengers and crew members on board the ill-fated aircraft. "I've already instructed related departments to carry out search and rescue operations and to make preparations for emergency response and follow-up work," Xi said, adding that "China will stay in touch with the United States."

Besides, Obama also mourned the deaths of Chinese civilians slain in a terrorist attack in southwest China's Kunming city on March 1. Obama said the United States was against all forms of terrorism and stood ready to cooperate with China in the fight against terrorism.

"Terrorism is the common enemy for human beings," Xi said, adding that China was prepared to work with the international community, including United States, to battle all forms of terrorism.