2014年11月11日晚，中国国家主席习近平同美国总统奥巴马在北京中南海瀛台就中美关系及共同关心的重大国际和地区问题，进行了坦诚、轻松的非正式会晤。两国元首以瀛台漫步的轻松形式展开了长时间的会晤。习近平借古喻今，向奥巴马讲述了古老瀛台的历史由来。他说，当代中国人的思维、中国政府的治国方略，浸透着中国传统文化的基因。中美国情各异，历史文化、发展道路、发展阶段不同，应该相互理解，相互尊重，聚同化异，和而不同。奥巴马总统对此回应道，会谈加深了他对中国的国情以及中国政府和领导人执政理念的了解，更加理解中国人民为何珍惜国家统一和稳定，美国无意遏制或围堵中国，愿意同中方坦诚沟通对话，增进相互了解，欢迎中国在国际事务中发挥建设性作用，愿同中方携手应对各种全球性挑战，共同促进亚太和世界和平与安全。瀛台会晤是继中美两国元首在美国加州安纳伯格庄园举行“不打领带”的非正式会晤后，中美首脑外交的又一创新安排，有利于双方在战略层面理解彼此意图，增进战略互信，展现了中美两国致力于构建中美新型大国关系的决心。
The Xi-Obama Meeting at Yingtai
Chinese President Xi Jinping had a candid, relaxed, and informal meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on the evening of November 11, 2014 at Yingtai, an island with ancient palace buildings within the Zhongnanhai compound. They discussed issues concerning Sino-US relations and other major global and regional issues of mutual concern. The two heads of state had a long, relaxed conversation while strolling at Yingtai. Xi told Obama about the history and anecdotes of Yingtai. The DNA of traditional Chinese culture is, in Xi's words, embedded in contemporary Chinese thinking and in the governance strategies of the Chinese government. Diverging national contexts of the two countries with regard to history, culture, development paths, and stages of development, he noted, underscore the importance of mutual understanding, mutual respect, and tolerance for differences in the search for common ground and lasting peace. In response Obama acknowledged that the talk had enabled him to gain a better insight into China's realities and the governance philosophy of the Chinese government and its leaders, and a better understanding of the aspirations of the Chinese people for national unity and stability. Debunking the notion that the United States seeks to contain China, he reiterated his willingness to have a candid dialogue with China so as to foster mutual understanding, and welcomed China as a constructive player in international affairs in the shared endeavor to address global challenges and promote peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The talk at Yingtai, a continuation of the opennecked informal summit at the Annenberg Retreat in California, represented another innovative diplomatic engagement at the most senior level between China and the United States. The event helped both sides foster mutual trust and better gauge each other's intentions at a strategic level, and further demonstrated the imperative for both governments to work towards a new model of major-country relationship.