On Nov. 16, 2011, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai attended the luncheon of the Third "China-U.S. Dialogue" at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and delivered a speech.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui said that President Hu Jintao and President Barack Obama had a meeting during the APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting in Hawaii. They had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and issues of common concern and reached broad consensus. The two heads of state acknowledged that strengthening cooperation is the only right choice for both China and the United States. The two sides should firmly hold the positioning of building a cooperative China-U.S. partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit to ensure the long-term, stable, effective growth of bilateral relations.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui said that in the past two years and a half, the leaders of the two countries have already held nine formal meetings. Such close contacts between the heads of state are rarely seen not only in the history of China-U.S. relations, but also in the relationship between the United States and other major powers. It fully embodies the importance attached by the leaders of the two countries to China-U.S. relations. For the next stage, China is willing to make concerted efforts with the United States to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state, strengthen dialogues and exchanges, and enhance strategic mutual trust between the two countries. China is willing to work together with the United States to expand mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences and sensitive issues, and jointly develop a sound cooperative China-U.S. partnership.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui stressed that the United States has entered the political election cycle and should be especially vigilant of the tendency of politicizing and emotionalizing China-related issues and avoid holding China-U.S. relations the hostage of U.S. domestic politics. He hoped that the people from all walks of life in the United States could work together with China to maintain the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations.

The Third "China-U.S. Dialogue" was organized by the Institute of Foreign Affairs, China-United States Exchange Foundation of Hong Kong and the Center for American Progress. There were dozens of experts and scholars from both sides participating in discussions.