Beijing: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao today
told US President Barack Obama that "partnership" is better
than "rivalry", as he sought to take to a "new level" the ties
between the two nations who are engaged in a tit-for-tat trade
war and differed over human rights.
"I sincerely hope that by making this visit to China, Mr
President, we will be able to take the comprehensive,
cooperative relationship between the two countries to a new
level," Wen told Obama as he wrapped up his maiden state visit
to the world's most populous nation.
"The history of Sino-US relations has made it clear that
cooperation benefits both sides while confrontation results in
harms, and mutual trust brings progress while suspicion causes
setbacks," Wen said.
"Dialogue is better than confrontation and partnership is
better than rivalry," the Chinese premier said, adding that
Beijing pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and
will not align with any country or country blocks.
He also said that global issues should decided by all
nations in the world, rather than one or two countries.
"We believe Sino-US cooperation can play a unique role
in advancing the establishment of the new international
political and economic order, as well as promoting world
peace, stability and prosperity," Wen was quoted as saying by
the official Xinhua news agency.
Noting that bilateral trade volume has increased greatly
since the two countries established diplomatic ties 30 years
ago, he said this was in the fundamental interests of both
countries and their people.
"We do not pursue trade surplus and I hope the US would
lift its policy of restricting high-tech products exports to
China and increase their proportion in the US exports to
China," the Chinese premier said.
In his remarks, Obama assured Wen that the US would
properly handle bilateral trade frictions so that they would
not harm the interests of the two countries.
The United States has noted China's concern over the
export control to China and is willing to take measures and
increase high-tech product exports to China, he added.
Sentiment favouring protectionism has grown in the US, as
hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese products pour into
the country each year. Some analysts say the Chinese goods are
artificially cheap and come at the expense of American jobs.
The issue of human rights has often been a sticking point
between China and the US with Western rights groups accusing
Beijing of regularly cracking down on its ethnic minorities.
Wen said the revival of world trade and investment is
beneficial to the global effort to cope with the financial
crisis and help accelerate the recovery of the world economy.
"China and the United States should work together to
fight against protectionism in trade and investment," he said.
Obama, who described US-China relations as of global
significance, said US-China cooperation is crucial as far as
major global issues such as economic recovery, climate change
and regional and global peace are concerned.
He hoped the two countries would abandon distrust and
misunderstanding, strengthen exchange and cooperation, so as
to push US-China relations forward.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 18:51