US committed to developing positive ties with China

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the Obama Administration is fundamentally committed to develop a positive and cooperative relationship with China. At the same time, she acknowledged that America’s relationship with China is one of the most complex and consequential ties with an emerging power. "Our most complex and consequential relationships with an emerging power is, of course, with China," Clinton said in her remarks at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii; an eminent American think-tank. "Some in our country see China’s progress as a threat to the US, while some in China worry that America seeks to constrain China. In fact, we believe a thriving China is good for China, and a thriving China is good for America," Clinton said. "President Obama and I have made very clear that the United States is fundamentally committed to developing a positive and cooperative relationship with China," she said. Referring to the Strategic and Economic Dialogue launched with China in 2009, Clinton said these are the most intensive and expansive talks ever conducted between the two sides. "We look forward to traveling to Beijing this spring for the fourth round," she said. "Now, we are looking to China to intensify dialogue between civilian and military officials through the Strategic Security Dialogue so we can have an open and frank discussions on the most sensitive issues in our relationship, including maritime security and cyber security," Clinton said. On the economic front, the US and China have to work together to ensure strong, sustained, balanced future global growth, she said, adding that US firms want fair opportunities to export to China’s markets and a level playing field for competition. "Chinese firms want to buy more high-tech products from us, make more investments in our country, and be accorded the same terms of access that market economies enjoy. We can work together on these objectives, but China needs to take steps to reform," she said. "In particular, we are working with China to end unfair discrimination against US and other foreign companies, and we are working to protect innovative technologies, remove competition-distorting preferences," Clinton said and demanded that China must allow its currency to appreciate more rapidly and end the measures that disadvantage or pirate foreign intellectual property. "We believe making these changes would provide a stronger foundation for stability and growth, both for China and for everyone else," she said.