BEIJING, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday his country was working on a "new type of relationship" with his counterparts in the United States.
Xi met Monday with former U.S. President Bill Clinton in Beijing. He said during his meeting that while U.S. relations with China weren't always positive, general trends were moving in the right direction for the two military and economic superpowers.
"President Barack Obama and I have reached an important consensus on building a new type of relationship between major countries, which is a strategic decision in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples," Xi was quoted as saying by China's official Xinhua News Agency.
Obama and Xi met in June in California to discuss bilateral concerns. Diplomatic ties have been frosty because of a U.S. military focus on the Asia-Pacific. Each side also has accused the other of cyberespionage.
There was no statement published by Xinhua from Clinton.
Xi met last week with U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. The Chinese president said Friday bilateral economic affairs could help stimulate the global economy.
"China's comprehensive reform and opening-up will not only provide strong momentum to China's development, but also bring more new opportunities for China-U.S. economic cooperation and other countries in the world," Xi said.
