China’s relationship with the United States has reached a “new crossroads” and could get back on the right track following a period of “unprecedented difficulty”, Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi has said.
Relations between the world’s two biggest economies have come under increasing strain amid a series of disputes over trade, human rights and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its latest move, the U.S. blacklisted dozens of Chinese companies it said had ties to the military.
Wang, China’s state councilor and foreign minister, said on Saturday in a joint interview with Xinhua news agency and other state media outlets that recent U.S. policies towards China had harmed the interests of both countries and brought huge dangers to the world.
But there was now an opportunity for the two sides to “open a new window of hope” and begin a new round of dialogue, he said.
The election of Joe Biden as U.S. president has been widely expected to improve relations between Washington and Beijing after four years of escalating tensions under the administration of Donald Trump.
Last month, Wang said he hoped the election of Biden would allow Washington’s China policy to “return to objectivity and rationality”.
However, President-elect Biden, who will take office on January 20, has continued to criticize China for its “abuses” on trade and other issues.
Wang did not mention Trump or Biden by name, but he urged the U.S. to “respect the social system and development path” chosen by China, adding that if Washington “learns lessons”, the conflicts between the two sides could be resolved.
