More co-operation key to building trust: US official
Beijing and Washington must co-operate more to minimise friction as the mainland becomes more prominent on the world stage, US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said last night.
'How much easier it would be if China and the US worked together, rather than against each other,' he said after his third day of meetings with top Chinese officials, including Premier Wen Jiabao , Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing .
Mr Zoellick is visiting the capital for the first of the 'strategic dialogues' suggested by President Hu Jintao to US President George W. Bush at an Apec meeting in November.
'The purpose of the dialogue was to discuss the strategic and conceptual framework for our relations, and move beyond the operational day-to-day work we are regularly engaged in,' Mr Zoellick said.
Sino-US tensions are on the rise as the mainland's military and economic power increases. The US estimates its trade deficit with China was US$162 billion last year, and blames what it considers an undervalued currency and unfair government subsidies for the imbalance.
Mr Li described the strategic dialogue as 'successful'.
He told Xinhua it could be seen as an indicator that co-operation between the two countries had reached new heights.
It also would help both nations increase mutual trust, expand consensus and promote constructive bilateral relations, Mr Li added.
