President Obama on Monday again sought to reassure China that the United States was not its economic or geopolitical rival, saying “the world benefits” if the two nations work together.
“The United States welcomes the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China,” Obama said in a speech to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in Beijing.
“I want to repeat that: We welcome the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China.”
Obama said his bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping would include discussions on fair treatment for foreign companies in China, cybercrime and the theft of intellectual property and human rights — all of which have in the past caused tensions between Washington and Beijing.
“I also hope to make progress with President Xi towards an ambitious, high-standard, bilateral investment treaty that opens up China’s economy to American investors — an agreement that could unlock even more progress and more opportunity in both of our countries,” Obama said.
Though his speech to business leaders focused on economic cooperation, the president is also expected to again have to address ongoing concerns that the U.S. strategic “pivot” to the Pacific is aimed at containing China during the upcoming APEC leaders’ summit and his talks with Xi.
