Beijing says disagreements are ‘normal’ and US and China can coexist as global powers

NPC spokesman says confrontation has hurt the interests of both countries and they should cooperate in areas like climate change and the pandemic

Zhang Yesui also insisted China is transparent about its military spending and efforts to strengthen defence ‘do not target or threaten any country’

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NPC spokesman Zhang Yesui speaks via video link on Thursday ahead of the opening session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:17am, 5 Mar 2021Updated: 2:03pm, 5 Mar 2021

China and the United States can coexist as major global powers but they must learn to respect each other and not go down the wrong path of confrontation and rivalry, the spokesman for the Chinese legislature said on Thursday.

Speaking at a late-night press conference ahead of the National People’s Congress opening session, Zhang Yesui said the two countries could work together in areas such as climate change and fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

He also said a telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden in February had been an opportunity to reset relations.

“China and the United States may have disagreements, it is normal. But cutting off supplies and decoupling has hurt the two countries without bringing benefits. Confrontation has hurt each other’s interests,” Zhang said. “There are many areas of mutual interest such as climate change and the Covid-19 response, promoting global economic recovery and maintaining regional peace and stability.”

He said China’s US policies were consistent and it had always adhered to the principle of no confrontation, though he reiterated that Beijing would defend its interests and sovereignty.

Biden in February said he had made clear to Xi in the call that there would be “repercussions” for China’s human rights abuses. Beijing has long rejected accusations of human rights violations, and Xi reportedly told Biden that issues relating to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan were “China’s internal affairs and concern China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.