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Chinese Ties Very Important to US: Official
The Bush administration attaches great importance to the U.S.-China relations and to improve ties with China is one of its major diplomatic goals, a senior US official said Thursday.
Speaking to governmental officials and media in Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore through a US governmental global television system from Washington, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly said, "It is a good news that China has achieved great success in economic developments, and it is natural for her to play an increasing role in multilateral security talks."
Referring to the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) in Hanoi, Vietnam, Kelly said both China and the U.S. shared lots of common interests in regional security affairs.
Kelly will accompany US Secretary of State Colin Powell to attend the ARF on July 25.
"Despite we have problems earlier this year, both sides are now actively seeking more contacts and dialogues," he said.
Asked about the state of US-China relations, Kelly said it could not be simply described as "strategic partners" as the former Clinton administration claimed or "competitors," because the relations cover too much dimensions.
He reiterated that China's victory of winning the bid to host Olympic Games in 2008 and its imminent entry into the World Trade Organization are "deserved to be proud of by Chinese people."
However, Kelly said the process of mending relations will not be smooth, but can be done step by step.
He also answered questions concerning people in the region, such as the U.S.-Southeast Asia relations, the Korean Peninsula situation, the Japanese textbook issue, the South China Sea issue, the National Missile Defense (NMD) system, the Pakistani-Indian dialogue, among others.
Kelly said the core of US policy toward the region remains strengthening bilateral talks with individual countries, but would like to promote talks under multilateral forums to build mutual confidence.
Eric Sandberg, Counselor for Political Affairs at the US Embassy in Bangkok, told Xinhua that the US policy toward Southeast Asia "works well," and it is unnecessary to make any change or any readjustments.
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