BEIJING (Reuters) – China expects the United States to “do more things” that will improve Sino-US dialogue, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday, days after Washington angered Beijing with accusations of information manipulation .
Communication between officials on the two sides has increased in recent months, leading to some improvement in relations that have been strained for years over issues such as Taiwan, the origin of COVID-19 and accusations of Chinese espionage.
“We hope the United States will meet us halfway and do more things to improve the Sino-US dialogue,” the ministry said in a statement.
China has always considered two-way relations along the lines of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and cooperation, the ministry added.
The statement came in response to a Reuters request for comment on last week’s message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in which he wished the Chinese people “peace, happiness and prosperity” ahead of the May Day holiday. . Sunday National.
Although Blinken appreciated China’s cooperation in solving the common challenges of climate, public health, counternarcotics, food security and global macroeconomic stability, he did not mention technology cooperation.
The Biden administration has imposed restrictions on Chinese chip exports, which it says are aimed at preventing Beijing from accessing advanced technology that could lead to military advances or human rights abuses. . China responds to accusations of economic pressure.
A US State Department report released Thursday accused Beijing of investing billions of dollars annually in information manipulation activities, prompting the Chinese Foreign Ministry to call the United States a you are truly an “empire of lies.” “.
However, the ministry’s statement on Monday did not refer to the State Department’s previous report.
Despite occasional sparks, expectations are building that recent rounds of high-level talks will help pave the way for a meeting between US President Joe Biden and the Chinese President. that Xi Jinping at the end of this year.
