Beijing urged Washington yesterday not to politicize the trade
frictions between the two countries and hit back at a White House
security report which criticized China's military build-up and
trade policies.
In talks with the visiting US senators Charles Schumer, a New
York Democrat and Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican,
Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing said trade frictions should be resolved through
negotiations.
"We hope the US side will not politicize these issues and
magnify them," Li was quoted by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin
Gang as saying at a regular news briefing yesterday.
According to Qin, Li briefed the US lawmakers on China's trade,
exchange rate policies and said both sides should hold a strategic
perspective in handling bilateral relations. The two senators
accompanied by Oklahoma Republican, Tom Coburn, arrived in Beijing
on Monday to push China to revalue its currency.
They were reported to have arrived with a warning that Beijing
should undertake decisive reform of its currency regime to avoid
the hefty tariff of 27.5 percent on its US-bound exports which
could be set by a US Congress vote on March 31.
However, Premier Wen
Jiabao has previously appeared to rule out any more reforms to
the yuan exchange rate.
"It’s no longer necessary for us to take one-off administrative
measures to affect the fluctuation of the Renminbi exchange rate
either up or downwards," Wen told a news conference last week.
"There will be no more surprises."
China revalued the yuan by 2.1 percent against the US dollar in
July last year scrapping its 11-year-old peg of about 8.28 yuan to
the dollar in favor of a link to a basket of currencies.
In responding to Washington's criticism on China's increase in
military spending outlined in a National Security Strategy report
released last week, Qin said the remarks were "irresponsible and
harmed bilateral relations."
"We ask the US to stop releasing statements that are harmful to
the healthy development of the
Sino-US relations, to mutual understanding and to regional
peace, stability and development," Qin said.
The White House report said China was expanding its military
without transparency but Qin characterized Beijing's military
policy as "defensive in nature."
The US report also expressed concern about China's trade tactics
saying Beijing was seeking to direct markets rather than opening
them up. Qin said China conducts economic and energy cooperation
with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual
benefit.
China reiterates one-China principle regarding
Taiwan's external exchanges
Qin reiterated the one-China principle regarding Taiwan's
external exchange activities.
The Chinese government does not object to Taiwan's
non-governmental exchanges with other countries but firmly opposes
‘Taiwan independence’ and secessionist activities that suggest
there could be "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," said Qin
Gang.
He said the Chinese government deals with Taiwan's external
exchange activities in light of the one-China principle. Qin made
the remarks when commenting on the US visit by the Kuomintang (KMT)
Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou.
China hopes to strengthen cooperation with
UNHCR
China hopes to strengthen cooperation with the Office of United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Qin said.
Speaking of the ongoing visit to China by the High Commissioner
for Refugees, Antonio Oliveira Guterres, Qin said, "We are
confident that his visit will help promote mutual trust between
China and the UNHCR."
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with Guterres on Tuesday and
the High Commissioner expressed a hope that exchanges and
cooperation with China on how to deal with refugee-related issues
could be discussed.
Responding to question about the so-called North Korean refugees
in China it was pointed out by Qin that they were not refugees as
they had entered China illegally. China always dealt with this kind
of problem in accordance with Chinese and international laws and
humanitarian principles, Qin emphasized. "We will continue to do so
in the future," he said.
Hope remains over Iranian nuclear issue
There still remains hope for solving the Iranian nuclear
standoff through negotiations, Qin said.
All parties concerned should continue to exercise "restraint and
flexibility" so as to create favorable conditions for the solution
of the issue, Qin said.
It was China's constant stance to properly resolve the issue
through political negotiations and diplomatic efforts which
accorded with the common interests of all permanent and
non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.
China hoped that more time could be given to political
negotiations and diplomatic efforts and urged all parties concerned
to accelerate the pace of negotiations, he said.
Speaking of the efforts made by China and Russia in solving the
issue, Qin said both countries participated with a constructive
attitude on the solution of the nuclear-related issues in Iran and
the Korean peninsula. "Our aim is to eventually solve the issues
through peaceful negotiations," he said.
"This not only accords with the interests of both countries,"
but is also conducive to the peace and stability of the world and
region as well, he said.
Coordination between China, Russia, India conforms to
countries' interests
Coordination between China, Russia and India is in the best
interests of the three countries and benefits regional and global
peace and stability, Qin said. Qin made his remarks in reply to a
question concerning the meeting of foreign ministers from the three
countries.
He said, as the three big powers, they had common interests in
safeguarding regional security and stability, economic development
and strengthening cooperation.
"Regular meetings allow all three parties to exchange their
views on issues of common concern and strengthen their coordination
which conforms to their interests and is in favor of the peace and
stability of the region and the world," he said.
The foreign ministers from these three countries have conducted
four rounds of informal meetings. A joint communiqué was issued at
the end of the last round of meetings in the June last year.
Reconstruction, stability priorities for Iraq
Reconstruction and the resumption of stability as soon as
possible were the priorities for Iraq and its people, Qin said.
China always adheres to the principle of resolving conflicts
between countries through peaceful negotiations, Qin said.
Romanian president to visit China
Qin announced that Romanian President Traian Basescu will pay a
state visit to China from March 27 to 29 at the invitation of
President Hu
Jintao.
Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller will pay an official visit
to China from March 28 to 30 at the invitation of Foreign Minister
Li Zhaoxing.
Algerian Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Bedjaoui
will pay an official visit to China from March 27 to 29 at the
invitation of Li.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency March 22,
2006)