Analysis
The quote aligns verbatim with Xi’s remarks during a joint press conference with then-President Barack Obama on **September 25, 2015**, in Washington, D.C. The metaphor of the Pacific Ocean was a recurring theme in his speech, emphasizing mutual cooperation over conflict. Multiple independent sources—including **C-SPAN’s official transcript**, **The White House archives (Obama administration)**, and major media like *The New York Times* and *Xinhua*—corroborate the statement. No credible evidence suggests misattribution or fabrication.
Background
The 2015 visit aimed to ease U.S.-China tensions amid disputes over cybersecurity, the South China Sea, and trade. Xi’s rhetoric frequently employed maritime metaphors to frame bilateral relations as expansive and non-zero-sum. The phrase reflected China’s diplomatic strategy of reassuring the U.S. while asserting its regional role, a theme repeated in later speeches (e.g., at the 2017 Davos Forum).
Verdict summary
Xi Jinping did make this statement during his 2015 U.S. state visit, as widely reported by credible news outlets and confirmed by official transcripts.