China hopes US will remove 'unreasonable' curbs on cooperation

Beijing

CHINA urged the United States on Sunday to remove "unreasonable" curbs on cooperation as soon as possible and work together on issues like climate change, while accusing Washington of bringing chaos in the name of spreading democracy.

Last week, US President Joe Biden singled out a "growing rivalry with China" as a key challenge facing the United States, with his top diplomat describing the Asian country as "the biggest geopolitical test" of this century.

Speaking at his annual news conference, the Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, struck a tough line even as he outlined where the world's two biggest economies could work together.

Questioned about recent US-China frictions over Taiwan, Xinjiang and the disputed South China Sea, Mr Wang said Beijing "will never accept baseless accusations and smears".

The US had used democracy and human rights as a basis for arbitrarily interfering with other countries' affairs, he said. "The US should realise this as soon as possible, otherwise the world will continue to experience instability."

Mr Wang added that differences between China and the US must be managed carefully, the two sides must advocate healthy competition not zero-sum finger-pointing, and that areas like climate change and fighting the pandemic were where they could cooperate.

"It is hoped that the United States and China will meet each other halfway and lift the various unreasonable restrictions placed on Sino-US cooperation to date as soon as possible, and not create new obstacles artificially."

The United States and China are at odds over influence in the Indo-Pacific region, Beijing's economic practices, Hong Kong, Taiwan and human rights in China's Xinjiang region.

Mr Wang also said on Sunday that the electoral system in Hong Kong must be improved for long-term stability, saying reform would bring about a "brighter future" for the city.

China's plan to dramatically reform Hong Kong's electoral system, unveiled last week during the country's annual parliamentary session, is expected to upend the territory's governance and ensure Beijing loyalists are in charge.

"Hong Kong's transition from chaos to governance is fully in the interests of all parties," said Mr Wang.

"Loving Hong Kong and patriotism are exactly the same," said Mr Wang, adding that changes to the electoral system are constitutional and justified. REUTERS