Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian address the media in a press briefing on Feb 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY)
BEIJING – China hopes that the United States can abandon the zero-sum game mindset, view China and China-US relations in an objective and rational manner, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Thursday.
Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at a press briefing when asked to respond to remarks made by US President Joe Biden's nominee for CIA director William Burns regarding bilateral ties.
Zhao said that, over the past few years, out of political purposes, the former US administration made severe miscalculations and misinterpretations on China's goals and policies, and took many containment and oppressive measures that caused immeasurable damage to China-US relations.
China always believes that the bilateral relationship is not a zero-sum game, and both countries share broad common interests, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian
"It went against the fundamental interests of the two peoples," Zhao said.
China always believes that the bilateral relationship is not a zero-sum game, and both countries share broad common interests, said Zhao, adding that it is natural that there are differences between the two countries, but the bilateral relations cannot be defined by differences.
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Zhao said China hopes the United States can adopt positive, constructive China policies, and work with China in the same direction to focus on cooperation, manage differences, and bring the bilateral relations back to the track of sound and stable development.
On China-US trade and economic issues, Zhao said the essence of China-US trade is mutually beneficial in nature.
Calling for resolving relevant issues on the basis of mutual respect and equal-footed consultation, Zhao said China firmly opposes groundless accusations against and even stigmatization of China's normal economic and trade activities.
Meanwhile, Zhao also said that Chinese authorities had never requested US diplomats in China to take anal swab tests for the coronavirus.
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Zhao refuted US media reports that claimed some US diplomats had complained about being subjected to anal swab testing by Chinese authorities.
The US State Department recently issued a statement saying it was "evaluating all reasonable options" to address the issue with the aim of preserving the "dignity" of US officials.