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Chinese envoy chides US, touts PRC's contributions

The Chinese ambassador to the US chided Washington for its protectionist trade sentiment, while touting China's contributions throughout the world.

Speaking on Friday before about 200 people at a university in Indianapolis, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong (周文重) reiterated his country's hardline stance on Taiwan, saying its independence was out of the question.

"The 1.3 billion people on the mainland and the 23 million people in Taiwan are of the same blood and share a common destiny," he said. "We are willing to make every effort with the utmost sincerity to achieve peaceful reunification of the two sides ... but we will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means."

Zhou also noted that many "China-related" trade protection bills have been introduced in the US Congress.

Americans are worried by claims that Beijing's low valuation of the yuan, its currency, makes Chinese goods cheaper in the US and US products more expensive in China. US lawmakers are considering bills that would punish China for what they contend are predatory trade practices blamed for contributing to the loss of millions of manufacturing jobs.

"The growing protectionist sentiments and the tendency to politicize economic and trade issues are especially worrisome," Zhou said.

Most of Zhou's roughly 40-minute talk focused on China's contributions to a number of world affairs, including negotiations between the two Koreas and improved relationships with Japan, India and Russia.

"We are ready to join hands with people across the world to promote the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and a common prosperity," he said. "This is China's policy and long-term strategy."

He also said China has contributed more than 9,000 peacekeepers to UN operations around the globe.

"Working together, China and the United States effectively safeguard and enhance the peace, stability and the prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world," he said.

Two protesters were quickly escorted out of the auditorium when they stood up while Zhou answered questions by the audience about human rights abuses in China.
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