Obama wants ‘positive ties’ with China

US: President Barack Obama is determined “to further develop a positive relationship with China,” the White House said late Monday after Obama received credentials from Beijing’s new envoy to Washington.

Obama made the remark after receiving China’s new ambassador to the United States, Zhang Yesui, according to a statement from his spokesman Robert Gibbs.

“During their meeting, the President stated his determination to further develop a positive relationship with China,” the statement read.

“He reaffirmed our one China policy and our support for the efforts made by Beijing and Taipei to reduce friction across the Taiwan Strait.”

Obama “also stressed the need for the United States and China to work together and with the international community on critical global issues including nonproliferation and pursuing sustained and balanced global growth,” the statement read.

Ties between the two powers have been dogged in recent months over a host of issues, including a long-standing dispute over the value of the yuan, US arms sales to Taiwan, Internet freedom, and a visit by the Dalai Lama to the White House. China in response said it welcomed Obama’s pledge to develop positive ties with Beijing.

“China praises the positive attitude of US President Barack Obama... in promoting China-US relations,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.

He added that Beijing “values the reaffirmation by the United States of its commitment to China on the Taiwan and Tibetan issues.”

Beijing signaled willingness last week to boost contacts with Washington to move past these strains, with Qin insisting “dialogue and consultations on an equal footing” was the best way to put paid to bilateral tensions.

The next round of high-level strategic and economic talks between the countries are expected to be held in Beijing in late May.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are expected to represent the US side, while Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councillor Dai Bingguo will lead the Chinese delegation.

The talks will be the highest-level meeting between the two sides since ties broke down earlier this year.

The first round of the dialogue was held in Washington in July last year.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said last week he was confident the two nations could work through the ongoing concerns.

“The dialogue in May will be very important. It’s an opportunity to address the problems between China and the United States, and so we take it very seriously,” Wen said. Washington, AFP