As a natural consequence of its economic growth and development, China's global emergence need not be viewed as a threat to the US, a senior US official said Thursday. 

 

The US welcomed the emergence of a China that is peaceful and prosperous and that actively participates in and contributes to international institutions, Thomas Christensen, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said in written testimony before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He quoted remarks made by US President George W. Bush to President Hu Jintao in April. 

 

The US and China were working closely on the diplomatic front, engaging on an extremely broad range of issues in which the two countries had common interests, he said during a two-day hearing on China which started Thursday. 

 

The US engagement with China took place in many different forums, both bilateral and multilateral, and at different levels, said Christensen. 

 

The US worked actively with China in most major international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and regional organizations like the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, he said. 

 

Bilaterally, Christensen said, the two sides met regularly to discuss issues concerning economy, nonproliferation, counter terrorism cooperation, working together on law enforcement and global issues from environment to health and science and technology.  

 

"In engaging China and expanding our cooperation in areas of mutual interest, we are in effect encouraging China to act as a responsible shareholder," Christensen said. 

 

The concept of China as a responsible global shareholder was "not only our objective but a framework for a process that involves building an important and mutually beneficial relationship" between the countries, he added.  

 

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission was created in October 2000 to monitor, investigate and submit to the Congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the US and China. It provides recommendations to the Congress for legislative and administrative action. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)