As a natural consequence of its economic growth and development,
China's global emergence need not be viewed as a threat to the US,
a senior US official said Thursday.?
The US welcomed the emergence of a China that is peaceful and
prosperous and that actively participates in and contributes to
international institutions, Thomas Christensen, deputy assistant
secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said in
written testimony before the US-China Economic and Security Review
Commission. He quoted remarks made by US President George W. Bush
to President Hu Jintao in April.?
The US and China were working closely on the diplomatic front,
engaging on an extremely broad range of issues in which the two
countries had common interests, he said during a two-day hearing on
China which started Thursday.?
The US engagement with China took place in many different
forums, both bilateral and multilateral, and at different levels,
said Christensen.?
The US worked actively with China in most major international
organizations such as the United Nations, the World Trade
Organization and regional organizations like the ASEAN Regional
Forum and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, he
said.?
Bilaterally, Christensen said, the two sides met regularly to
discuss issues concerning economy, nonproliferation, counter
terrorism cooperation, working together on law enforcement and
global issues from environment to health and science and
technology.??
"In engaging China and expanding our cooperation in areas of
mutual interest, we are in effect encouraging China to act as a
responsible shareholder," Christensen said.?
The concept of China as a responsible global shareholder was
"not only our objective but a framework for a process that involves
building an important and mutually beneficial relationship" between
the countries, he added.??
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission was created
in October 2000 to monitor, investigate and submit to the Congress
an annual report on the national security implications of the
bilateral trade and economic relationship between the US and China.
It provides recommendations to the Congress for legislative and
administrative action.?
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)