China Hopes for Better US Relations    01/21 06:18

   

   BEIJING (AP) -- China on Thursday expressed hope the Biden administration 
will improve prospects for people of both countries and give a boost to 
relations after an especially rocky patch, while getting in a few final digs at 
former Trump officials.

   "I think after this very difficult and extraordinary time, both the Chinese 
and American people deserve a better future," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua 
Chunying told reporters at a daily briefing.

   She said China and the U.S. need to relaunch cooperation in a number of 
areas. She particularly welcomed the new administration's decision to remain in 
the World Health Organization and return to the Paris Agreement on climate 
change.

   "Many people of insight in the international community are looking forward 
to the early return of Sino-U.S. relations to the correct track in making due 
contributions to jointly address the major and urgent challenges facing the 
world today," Hua said.

   She also criticized ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other former 
officials, a day after Beijing imposed travel and business sanctions on 30 of 
them, including Trump's national security adviser Robert O'Brien and U.N. 
Ambassador Kelly Craft.

   "Over the past few years, the Trump administration, especially Pompeo, has 
buried too many mines in Sino-U.S. relations that need to be eliminated, burned 
too many bridges that need to be rebuilt and wrecked too many roads that need 
to be repaired," Hua said.

   Hua on Wednesday described Pompeo as a "doomsday clown" and said his 
designation of China as a perpetrator of genocide and crimes against humanity 
was merely "a piece of wastepaper."

   Hua's markedly more friendly tone Thursday appeared to signal Chinese hopes 
to cool the rhetoric on both sides and give the relationship a chance to heal 
over some of the worst divisions.

   "I think both China and the United States need to show courage, show wisdom, 
listen to each other, face up to each other and respect each other," Hua said. 
"I think this is the responsibility of the two major countries of China and the 
United States, and it is also the expectation of the international community."

   Also Thursday, China's Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai offered his 
congratulations to Biden on Twitter, which is widely used by the Chinese 
government despite being blocked in the country.

   "Congratulations to President Biden on his inauguration! China looks forward 
to working with the new administration to promote sound & steady development of 
China-U.S. relations and jointly address global challenges in public health, 
climate change & growth," Cui tweeted.

   Chinese President and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping congratulated Biden 
on his election but had no immediate comment on Wednesday's inauguration.

   While Biden's administration is expected to seek to put relations with China 
back on an even keel, he is unlikely to significantly alter U.S. policies on 
trade, Taiwan, human rights and the South China Sea that have angered Xi's 
increasingly assertive government.