China-US relationship called 'most important' in world
Tom Evans, CNN
The relationship between China and the United States is 'the most
important' bilateral relationship in the world, a former Chinese foreign
ministry official said Monday.
An artist crafts a dough figurine of US President Barack Obama,
made from flour and water, in Shenyang |
Victor Zhikai Gao, now the director of the Beijing Private Equity
Association, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that the United States
should deal with Beijing 'with respect' and not be 'too abrasive'.
"That's the minimum thing we can ask for, I believe", he said on the
eve of talks between President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Gao pointed out that China is now the United States' largest creditor
nation, holding foreign reserves of more than $2 trillion, about
two-thirds of which are assets that are denominated in US dollars.
"China-US relations are the most important bilateral relations in the
world", Gao said. Obama appears keen to put past US-Chinese
disagreements behind him as he seeks Chinese cooperation on a host of
issues from the global economy and climate change to nuclear
proliferation. He's also looking to China for leadership on how to deal
with repressive regimes such as Myanmar and Sudan, both of which are
friends of Beijing and major energy suppliers to China.
Chinese hairdresser Huang Xin works on his latest creation, a
replica of US President Barack Obama made from human hair, at
his barbershop in Beijing. |
Critics of the US president say he is downplaying what was once a
central tenet of U.S. foreign policy, the promotion of human rights and
democracy, in order to persuade China to help the United States achieve
its foreign policy goals. But Obama insists America 'will never waver in
speaking up for the fundamental values that we hold dear'. Gao
acknowledged global concern about China's human rights record, admitting
the situation is not perfect.
"But if you look at today's human rights issues, and comparing that
with what we had 30 years ago, 20 years ago, or 10 years ago, then China
has made great improvements", he said.
A close-up of the statue of Barack
Obama made of human hair |
Gao said China and the Chinese people are great admirers of America.
But he said, 'China's foreign policy is underlined by the principle of
non-interference in each other's internal affairs. If it is only up to
the United States to discuss human rights issues in China, this is
unbalanced'.
He also tried to reassure critics in the United States, some of whom
have accused China of manipulating its currency to keep the cost of
Chinese goods artificially low, about the impact of China's rapidly
expanding economic power. By some estimates, China's economy will be the
same size as the US economy by 2025, though there will still be a huge
gap in economic output per person.
"Let me make the record straight. Over the past few months since the
outbreak of the financial crisis, China has continued to purchase
Treasury bonds issued by the US government, rather than reducing them in
any way", he said.
"So I think the American people need to realize that China has
applied a very steady hand and very responsible hand in dealing with
issues involving the dollar".
Gao said China has no desire to be an enemy of the United States.
"Both China and the United States need to give each other due respect
and need to incentivize each other. And then we can work together
towards a better peace and better world". |