BEIJING, March 4 (Reuters) – China is willing to work with the United States to promote communication at all levels while adhering to “red lines” and principles, a spokesman for China’s National People’s Congress said on Wednesday.
The comments came ahead of the opening of the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress on Thursday and as both countries look to stabilize relations ahead of a summit expected to be held in Beijing by leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Bilateral ties, already damaged by trade tensions, were further strained by the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a Caracas attack in January and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. China regards the two countries as major long-term oil suppliers and close cooperative partners.
Spokesman Lou Qinjian reiterated China’s call for an immediate ceasefire and urged respect for Iran’s sovereignty.
He said at a press conference: “No country has the right to control international affairs, dominate the destiny of other countries, monopolize development advantages, let alone do whatever it wants on the world stage.”
He said that China and the United States should respect each other and coexist peacefully, and called on the U.S. Congress to view China “objectively” and do more things that are beneficial to the relationship between the two countries.
But he added: “China has its own principles and red lines and will, as always, resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.”
A White House official said Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, but Beijing has not made an official announcement.
Bloomberg News said on Tuesday that top trade negotiators from both sides are expected to meet in Paris next week to discuss potential business deals related to the highly anticipated meeting.
(Reporting by Xiuhao Chen, Bu Shi, Ethan Wang and Ruian Wu; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Edwina Gibbs)
