Senior Chinese diplomat: cooperation the only correct choice for China, US

Senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi has urged steering China-US relations back to the track of coordination, cooperation and stability in a recent meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying China is firmly resolved in safeguarding its core interests, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson on Thursday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks when responding to media queries about the meeting.

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, expounded China's basic attitude toward developing China-US relations and its positions on important and sensitive issues concerning Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, according to Zhao.

Yang said China and the United States benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation, and cooperation is the only correct choice for both sides.

China is committed to working with the US side to develop a relationship featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, while firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, Yang added.

"It is hoped that the US side will work with China to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and bring bilateral relations back to the track of coordination, cooperation and stability," said Yang.

On the Taiwan question, Yang Jiechi stressed that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. "China is resolutely determined to safeguard its core interests. We demand the US side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues," said Yang.

On issues regarding Hong Kong, Yang said Hong Kong affairs including the establishment and improvement of the legal system and enforcement mechanism to uphold national security in Hong Kong are purely China's internal affairs.

Saying China is resolutely determined in advancing the national security legislation, Yang stressed China firmly opposes US interference in Hong Kong affairs and the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers' Statement on Hong Kong.

China urges the US side to respect China's sovereignty, view the legislation objectively and fairly, and stop meddling in Hong Kong's internal affairs in any form, Yang said.

On issues regarding Xinjiang, he said thanks to the counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures taken by the Chinese government in accordance with law, the security situation in Xinjiang has been turned around and the rights to life, health and development of all ethnic groups there have been effectively safeguarded.

China strongly deplores the US signing of the "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020", Yang said, urging the US side to respect China's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts, stop applying double standards on counter-terrorism issues, and stop using Xinjiang-related issues as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs.