|
Zoellick puts positive spin on China ties
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-08-03 17:32
Deputy US Secretary of State Robert Zoellick put a positive spin on Sino-US
relations, playing down recent reports that Washington sees China as a rising
economic competitor and military threat, the AFP reported.
Zoellick, who is in China for the first round of
high-level strategic dialogue aimed at easing mutual suspicion and improving a
shaky relationship, said he had "very useful" and "very open" discussions.
U.S. Deputy
Secretary of State Robert Zoellick (L) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing in Beijing August 2, 2005. The U.S. and China
launched bi-annual strategic talks on Monday to try to keep their
increasingly complex relationship on an even keel at a time of tension
over a range of issues. [Reuters] |
While Washington is concerned about its ballooning trade deficit with China
and China's rapidly rising military spending, Beijing fears the United States
will try to limit its growing power.
Zoellick said the talks were useful in allowing each side to listen to the
other's concerns.
"A general point that I made is that across some seven administrations, the
goal of US policy is to integrate China into the world security, economic and
political system ..." Zoellick said.
"And that has been accomplished if you consider China is a member of the UN
Security Council, a member of the WTO ( World Trade Organization), a member of
ozone-depletion treaties and non-proliferation arrangements and a host of
others."
He said what was important now and in the future is for the United States and
China to "work together to try to pursue common interests" and maintain and
strengthen systems for cooperation.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Chinese officials, Zoellick said he
emphasized the United States had a "strong interest in building deeper
cooperation" with China.
Problems faced by the two countries and others could be tackled much more
easily if the United States and China were working together to solve them rather
than working against each other, Zoellick said.
Zoellick, who met Premier Wen Jiabao, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing as well as
his counterpart Dai Bingguo, said he also discussed terrorism, economic
development and trade and human rights.
Zoellick said the United States would also like to see more transparency in
China's military spending.
China's recent decision to revalue its currency and end its decade-long peg
to the dollar also came up for discussions, Zoellick said.
He opposed plans by some US lawmakers to punish China by imposing tariffs on
Chinese goods if it does not further revalue its currency.
Zoellick said Washington sees China's action as "an important first step" and
would "monitor closely the process to follow."
"In general, while we will continue to obviously present our view on why it's
important to have currency adjustments to be able to deal with international
imbalances, the idea of increasing tariffs to block trade and in the process
violate the WTO commitments would not be a constructive way to address that,"
Zoellick said.
Zoellick is scheduled to leave Wednesday.
|
 | | | 60-meter-long bridal gown | | |  | | | Experimental satellite takes off from Jiuquan | | |  | | | Four killed in Guangdong building collapse | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top China
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
