U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday as he concluded a three-day visit to Beijing, aimed at stabilizing and advancing U.S.-China relations. The talks, which also involved discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and top military officials, underscored both nations' desire to manage their complex relationship responsibly.

In his meeting with Sullivan, President Xi emphasized China's consistent commitment to fostering a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship with the United States. "China's commitment to the goal of stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations hasn't changed," Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He called for mutual efforts, expressing hope that the U.S. would "work with China to meet each other halfway."

Sullivan, representing President Joe Biden's administration, reiterated the U.S. commitment to avoiding conflict. "President Biden looks forward to engaging with you again in the coming weeks," Sullivan told Xi, highlighting the importance of dialogue in managing U.S.-China relations.

Throughout the discussions, several critical global and regional issues were addressed, including cross-strait relations, Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The White House described the talks as "candid, substantive, and constructive," indicating a focus on maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and addressing concerns over Chinese support for Russia during its conflict with Ukraine.

Earlier, Sullivan met with General Zhang Youxia, a high-ranking military official and Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing, marked the first encounter between a U.S. official from Biden's administration and Zhang. The discussions emphasized the need for improved military communications between the two nations to prevent misunderstandings and manage tensions.

"Your request for having this meeting with me demonstrates the value the US government puts on military security and our military-to-military relationship," Zhang noted. He underscored the importance of treating each other as equals in maintaining smooth China-U.S. interactions.

Both sides agreed to initiate theater-level calls between military commanders soon, a significant step towards restoring military communications that had been suspended following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August 2022. The renewed dialogue reflects a mutual understanding of the critical role that military communication plays in preventing conflict.

As Sullivan wrapped up his visit, both nations expressed a cautious optimism about the future of U.S.-China relations, with plans to continue high-level engagements in the coming months. The outcome of these discussions will be closely watched by the international community, given the significant impact of U.S.-China relations on global peace and stability.