Deputy US Secretary of State Robert Zoellick put a positive spin on Sino-US relations yesterday, playing down recent reports that Washington sees China as a rising economic competitor and military threat.
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.
While Washington is concerned about its ballooning trade deficit with China and China's rapidly rising military spending, Beijing fears the US 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 US 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 US had a "strong interest in building deeper cooperation" with China.
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