China, US should respect each others’ core interests: Chinese PM warns

The Chinese prime minister says China and the United States should respect each others' core interests and try to settle their differences, warning that persisting rows between Beijing and Washington will harm both sides.

Li Keqiang made the comments during a news conference held after the closing session of parliament - the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China – on Thursday, warning that a decoupling of the two countries’ economies is not good for the world.

“I believe both countries should respect each other and develop a relationship on the basis of equality, respect each others' core interests and major concerns and embrace cooperation,” the Chinese premier said.

The already tense relations between Beijing and Washington have worsened since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the administrations of President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, repeatedly trading barbs over issues related to the pandemic.

“Cooperation between China and the United States is beneficial to both sides, and fighting is damaging. It is not only related to the interests of the two countries, but also to the world. Therefore, the world is worried when these problems occur,” Li added.

He admitted that “conflicts are inevitable,” but stressed that what is important is the way both sides treat these conflicts.  

“The relationship between China and the United States has been volatile for decades. On the one hand, cooperation has been complicated and it requires wisdom to expand common interests and control conflicts and differences," the Chinese prime minister added.

China rejects US call for UN Security Council meeting over Hong Kong

China rejects attempts by the US to have the United Nations Security Council hold a meeting over Beijing’s proposed national security law for Hong Kong.

Most recently, Washington has expressed great concern for Hong Kong’s so-called autonomy after Beijing passed a proposal for National Security Law on the island.  

The new law is expected to criminalize sedition, secession, and subversion against the mainland. It would also pave the way for Chinese national security institutions to operate in the city for the first time since 1997, when Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule.

Trump has already warned that Washington would react “very strongly” to the new law in due time.

Hong Kong was rocked by turbulent protests starting in June last year against a proposed extradition bill. The proposal was later withdrawn but the protests continued and became more violent, endangering the lives and properties of citizens.

The protesters have been demanding Hong Kong’s secession since then. Beijing says the US and Britain have been fanning the flames of the unrest in Hong Kong by supporting the protesters.

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