Maybe it’s high-level sarcasm but it strikes me as a plagiarizing Administration… although I guess if you’re REALLY NEW at the job, you copy-cat but still…
COMPARE 2017 to 2014, role reversals
2017: Secretary of State Tillerson to Foreign Minister Wang: [The] US-China relationship [began] now over 40 years ago with the historic opening between the US and China, and through that period, it has been a very positive relationship built on non-confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect, and always searching for win-win solutions.
2014: President Xi to President Obama:
Ladies and gentlemen, friends, China is ready to work with the United States to make efforts in a number of priority areas and putting into effect such principles as non-confrontation, non-conflict, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation.