BEIJING, March 4 (Reuters) – China is willing to work with the United States to promote communication at all levels while upholding its “red lines” and principles, a spokesperson for its parliament said on Wednesday.
The comments come ahead of the opening of the National People’s Congress annual session on Thursday and as both countries look to stabilise ties ahead of an expected summit of leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing at the end of March.
Bilateral relations, already bruised due to trade tensions, have been further strained by the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a Caracas raid in January and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. China counts both countries as long-time major oil suppliers and close partners.
Spokesman Lou Qinjian repeated China’s call for an immediate ceasefire and urged respect for Iran’s sovereignty.
“No country has the right to control international affairs, dictate the fate of other nations, or monopolise development advantages, still less to act as it pleases on the world stage,” he told a press conference.
China and the United States should respect each other and coexist peacefully, he said, calling on the U.S. Congress to view China “objectively” and do more to benefit ties.
But he added: “China has its own principles and red lines, and as always, will resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.”
A White House official has said Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2, although Beijing has made no official announcement.
Top trade negotiators from both sides are expected to meet in Paris next week to discuss potential business deals linked to the highly anticipated meet, Bloomberg News said on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen, Shi Bu, Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Edwina Gibbs)
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