Premier: Sino-US Relations Go Beyond Bilateral Scope

Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday that the China-United States relations was a linchpin of China's diplomacy which not only concerned the interests of the two peoples, but also went beyond the bilateral scope to some extent.

Wen said U.S. leaders' recent meetings with the Dalai Lama and the countries' arms sales to Taiwan violated China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"This has seriously disrupted Sino-U.S. relations," Wen said. "The responsibility did not lie with China."

However, Wen said the bilateral relationship experienced a good start after U.S. President Barack Obama took office.

Wen voiced hope that the U.S. would face the problems squarely and work to restore and improve relations with China on the basis of the three joint communiques between the two countries, which are the foundation of Sino-U.S. relations.

Peaceful relations and mutual trust benefit both sides, while confrontations and suspicions can hurt both, he said.

Wen proposed the two countries should promote the development of bilateral ties through dialogues, cooperation and partnership.

(Source: Xinhua)