Xi's written speech injects energy into development of China-US ties: scholars

As Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday for a state visit, U.S. scholars said his written speech injected energy into development of China-U.S. ties.

Xi arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday afternoon for a three-day state visit to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump.

U.S. scholars expect that under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, the two countries can strengthen coordination, foster positive interaction, enhance the well-being of both peoples, and add hope for world peace.

"President Xi Jinping clearly said that as we move forward together, it doesn't have to be one at the expense of the other. The two countries can move forward with their initiatives in parallel, not necessarily. So there will be some limited competition, hopefully within boundaries, and some economic development. But remember, these two economies are heavily dependent on each other. So in the longer term, what's good for one could very well be good for the other," said Rob Kim Marjerison, associate professor of Global Business at Wenzhou-Kean University in China.

"The world likes to see stability and particularly it likes to see stability amongst the larger powers. So hopefully, President Xi, in his deliberations with President Trump, will insist on and highlight the importance of the world's most powerful countries to show stability, to show consistency and from that reintroducing a sense of confidence on the world stage," said Saeed Khan, an associate professor at Wayne State University.

Dan Stephenson, chairman of the Helen Foster Snow Foundation, expressed hope that the Xi-Trump meeting will yield fruitful results, stabilize U.S.-China relations, and address pressing bilateral and global issues.

"I hope that the upcoming meeting between President Trump and President Xi is one that is fruitful and that can land some stability to the U.S.-China relationship. I think this is a great opportunity for the two leaders to speak not just about the pressing issues between the two countries, but also other issues that affect the world in general," said Stephenson.

Xi's written speech injects energy into development of China-US ties: scholars

The UK handed over 12 cultural relics and artworks to China during a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in London on Wednesday.

Rao Quan, China's vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, joined the ceremony online. Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang attended the event in person. The Chinese side said facilitating the return of lost cultural relics to their countries of origin is a just cause that safeguards cultural heritage, respects the cultural rights and national sentiments of peoples around the world, and protects the heritage of human civilization.

The British side said the return was a positive outcome of practical cooperation between the two countries, reflecting their mutual respect and firm commitment to working together to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural relics.

The cultural relics and artworks were seized by London's Metropolitan Police during investigations.

Britain returns 12 cultural relics, artworks to China