China urges U.S. work for improvement of relations

BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- China Tuesday called on the United States to work for the improvement of bilateral relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the call at a regular press briefing in response to questions on China-U.S. relations.

The United States should earnestly abide by the principles laid out by the three China-U.S. joint communiques and the joint statement of the two countries, respect China's core interests and major concerns, cautiously and properly handle related sensitive issues and create conditions for the improvement and development of their relations, Qin said.

He said the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and U.S. President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama had seriously damaged China-U.S. relations.

At the end of January, the U.S. government announced plans to sell an arms package to Taiwan, which included Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and minesweepers. Then on Feb. 18, U.S. President Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama in Washington, regardless of China's repeated and resolute opposition to the meeting taking place.

China has clearly expressed its position with regard to the meeting many times, said Qin, adding that China demanded the United States respect China's position, right the wrongs, and take concrete measures to maintain sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations.

"The development of China-U.S. relations is in the fundamental interests of both countries and conducive to world peace and development," Qin said.

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