China-US ties 'positive' in direction

Foreign Minister Wang Yi discusses China-US ties at a news conference during the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on Wednesday. Feng Yongbin / China Daily

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the China-US relationship is "transitioning steadily and developing in a positive direction" thanks to intense communication and joint efforts made by the two nations.

This includes "effective communication" such as conversations between their presidents and other high-level exchanges, Wang said at a news conference during the ongoing two sessions in Beijing.

"There is no reason why China and the US couldn't become excellent partners, as long as we act on the consensus reached by our presidents and follow the principles of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation," he said.

High-level contacts in the past month included a phone conversation between President Xi Jinping and his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, who took office on Jan 20.

Wang noted that the two leaders affirmed the importance of upholding the one-China policy and stressed greater development of the relationship based on a new starting point.

Following the phone conversation between Xi and Trump, Wang met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and State Councilor Yang Jiechi visited Washington, meeting Trump and having talks with major diplomatic policymakers.

The US State Department said on Tuesday that Tillerson will visit Beijing on March 18 to discuss China-US relations and multilateral issues.

Tillerson is a good listener and good communicator, Wang said. "I hope and believe we can establish a good working relationship and work together to realize a normal development of China-US relations."

Wang said the two countries should rise above their differences in social systems and the zero-sum mentality. The mutual need for cooperation is much larger than the differences, he noted.

"We should put our efforts into enlarging our shared interests rather than building our success at the expense of others, because it's just not possible," he added.

Tension is running high on the Korean Peninsula as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea launched ballistic missiles on Monday amid the ongoing joint military drills by the US and the Republic of Korea, seen as posing great security pressure on the DPRK.

When asked about the soaring tension, Wang said China suggested "dual suspension" as the first step for tackling the peninsular crisis.

That would mean Pyongyang suspending its nuclear and missile tests and suspension of the large-scale joint military drills by Seoul and Washington, Wang said.

He said the two sides are like "two accelerating trains heading toward each other with neither side willing to give way".

"Are the two sides really ready for a head-on collision? Our priority now is to flash a red light and apply the brakes," Wang added.

Wang said there is still a chance to resume the Six-Party Talks about the nuclear issue, and there is hope for peace.

"Nuclear weapons will not bring security, and the use of force is no solution," he said.

Wang said both fulfilling sanctions and promoting talks are part of the efforts to implement the United Nations Security Council's resolutions on the issue, and the two tracks should proceed simultaneously.

China will continue to be "a railway switchman" to shift the issue back on the track of seeking settlement through negotiations, Wang said.