Trump offers congratulations

In a phone call on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump congratulated President Xi Jinping on his re-election as the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Trump also congratulated Xi on the successful closing of the 19th CPC National Congress.

Trump said the congress had drawn the world's attention and that he also closely followed the important policies and information that Xi delivered during the gathering, according to a news release from the Foreign Ministry.

Trump said his upcoming visit to China has become a heated topic in the United States. He expects to meet Xi in Beijing to fully exchange views on enhancing cooperation between China and the United States, as well as on other international and regional issues of common concern.

Trump is to visit China in November, as well as attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vietnam, the White House announced earlier.

Xi expressed appreciation for Trump's congratulations.

In the call, Xi noted that the 19th CPC National Congress was a meeting of great significance that drew up a magnificent blueprint for China's future development.

He told Trump that he had made it clear in his report at the beginning of the congress that China will always adhere to the path of peaceful development and the strategy of opening-up, which is mutually beneficial.

He also noted that he had called on various countries to expand their overlapping interests and push forward coordination and cooperation among major nations.

Xi stressed that China attaches great importance to its relations with the US and said Beijing expects to promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect and benefit.

He added that he expects to welcome Trump in Beijing to jointly plan the future of China-US ties and promote cooperation, so as to bring more tangible benefits to the two peoples and make a greater contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and around the world.

lixiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/26/2017 page2)