China seeks reset in Sino-US ties

Asks America to stop 'smearing' CPC, halt support to 'separatist forces' in Tibet, HK, Xinjiang

China on Monday urged the US to stop "smearing" the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and its one-party political system, lift sanctions on trade and halt Washington's backing of "separatist forces" in Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

In his annual speech at the Lanting Forum, focussing on China-US ties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Biden administration should "adjust" the hardline policy pursued by former President Donald Trump towards Beijing to check its growing influence.

"We have no intention to challenge or replace the United States. We are ready to have peaceful coexistence and seek common development with the United States," Wang said.

"Likewise, we hope the

United States will respect China's core interests, national dignity, and rights to development. We urge the United States to stop smearing the CPC and China's political system, stop conniving at or even supporting the erroneous words and actions of separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence', and stop undermining China's sovereignty and security on internal affairs concerning Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet," he said.

"We hope that the US side will adjust its policies as soon as possible, among others, remove unreasonable tariffs on Chinese goods, lift its unilateral sanctions on

Chinese companies and research and educational institutes, and abandon irrational suppression of China," he said.

The relations between China and the US are at an all time low. The two countries are currently engaged in a bitter confrontation over various issues, including trade, the origins of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the communist giant's aggressive military moves in the disputed South China Sea and human rights.

US President Joe Biden who spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for over two hours in his first phone call on February 11 later said there would be "repercussions" for China's human rights abuses and he made the message clear to his Chinese counterpart in his talks.

In a CNN town hall on February 17, Biden said he stressed to Xi during their long conversation that the US would continue to assert its role as a voice for human rights on the world stage, including at the United Nations and other international agencies.

"We must speak up for human rights. It's who we are," the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted Biden as saying.

"There will be repercussions for China, and [Xi] knows that," he said.

"China is trying very hard to become the world leader and to get that moniker, and to be able to do that, they have to gain the confidence of other countries. And as long as they're engaged in activity that is contrary to basic human rights, it's going to be hard for them to do that," Biden, whose administration is formulating its China policy reconfiguring the one followed by Trump, said.

We have no intention to challenge or replace the United States. We are ready to have peaceful coexistence and seek common development with the United States

WANG YI CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER