China stresses cooperation with US
- Source: Global Times
- [01:27 January 29 2010]
- Comments
By Zhang Wen
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) meets with US President Barack Obama in Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 18, 2009. Photo: Xinhua
China stressed Thursday that it wants to work with the US, while denying any possible threat as a result of the country's rapid growth.
"China is willing to cooperate with the US in a wide range of bilateral areas," foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters, in response to a question about US President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address Thursday.
In his 69-minute speech, Obama expressed fears that other nations – including China – would outpace the US unless it takes action on its economy.
"Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, China's not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany's not waiting. India's not waiting," Obama said in his address to Congress. "These nations aren't standing still. These nations aren't playing for second place. They're put-ting more emphasis on math and science. They're rebuilding their infrastructure."
"They are making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs," the president said. "Well, I do not accept second-place for the US. As hard as it may be, as uncomfortable and contentious as the debates may be, it's time to get serious about fixing the problems that are hampering our growth."
Ma said China had yet to fully review the speech, but he noted that the idea of China as an economic threat did not "hold water."
"Cooperation between the two is in the fundamental interests of both countries, and good for world peace, stability and prosperity," he said.
Niu Xinchun, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, pointed out that Obama mentioned China three times in the speech, each time in terms of competitiveness.
"In neo-energy, high-speed railway and international-trade fields, Obama has noticed the rapid development of China. He proposed that US exports be doubled in the next five years. If so, it will be a big shock for us. China has much relied on exports to America. Now if the US starts to produce and sell more ‘made in the US,' our international trade situation will not be optimistic," Niu said.
Zhang Guoqing, an expert on American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, expressed similar concerns.
"Based on the speech, Obama is putting his main focus on domestic development, which includes pushing economic growth and promoting employment," Zhang said.
"He is likely to push more on China's revaluation of the renminbi exchange rate to ensure some improvement on foreign trade in order to boost his country's economic growth," Zhang added.
Agencies contributed to this story
