News / China

China FM urges US to rewrite bilateral ties with clean slate

Monday, 22 February 2021 10:52 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 22 February 2021 12:13 PM ]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is seen on a screen as he speaks at the Lanting Forum on China-US relations in Beijing on February 22, 2021. (Photo by AFP)

Beijing has called on the administration of US President Joe Biden to work with China to reopen dialogue and restore bilateral relations that were badly damaged under his predecessor Donald Trump.

“In the past few years, the US had cut off bilateral ties at almost all levels,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday. “We are always prepared to start an open and public dialogue with the US that is aimed at solving problems.”

Wang said the Trump administration’s actions to contain China had inflicted immeasurable harm, and urged the new administration to remove “unreasonable tariffs” on Chinese goods and “abandon irrational suppression of China’s technological progress.”

The top diplomat also called on Washington to respect China’s interests and stop interfering in Beijing’s internal affairs, including “conniving” with separatist forces of the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

“We urge the US to stop smearing the Communist Party of China and China's political system, stop conniving with or even supporting the erroneous words and actions of 'Taiwan independence' forces, and stop undermining China's sovereignty and security on internal affairs concerning Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet,” he said.

He said in order to bring China-US relations back on the right track, it was necessary for both sides to work toward the resumption of bilateral exchanges in all areas, adding that Beijing was prepared to work with the US in all fields.

“We stand ready to have candid communication with the US side, and engage in dialogues aimed at solving problems,” he noted.

During his four-year presidency, Trump slapped numerous sanctions and tariffs on China.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Trump-era tariffs would remain in place and that any changes would depend on China’s adherence to trade deal commitments.

Will Joe Biden continue economic war with China?

The impact of the Covid-19 virus has played its part on the world’s economy, yet, it seems that the recovery time from the depression caused is something that could be a factor in just how individual economies pick up again, with China bouncing back from the financial impact seen in 2020.

Wang made reference to a recent phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart, Biden, describing the conversation as a positive step in fostering good relations.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai also said on Monday that Beijing and Washington needed to have an accurate understanding of each other's strategic intentions.

He insisted that it was high time the two sides recalibrated the direction of their relations and had candid communications about their policy boundaries.

The ambassador urged the US to refrain from interfering in matters related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet, describing them as China's red lines.

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