China-US relations: Beijing could ‘reopen consulate, let journalists back in’
- Chinese ambassador says it all rests on American policy towards China and whether Washington aims to contain Beijing
- ‘It’s too early to talk about the schedule for next year,’ envoy says when asked if Biden and Xi will meet
“So if the US government is ready to reverse the course, we’re ready to look at it,” he said.
01:27
US consulate in Chengdu shut down in response to closure of China’s diplomatic mission in Houston
Closing down a foreign diplomatic mission is seen as an escalation of tension between countries.
Cui, who has been in his post since 2013, said Beijing and Washington “stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation” and “cooperation is the only right choice for both countries”.
Asked when Chinese President Xi Jinping and Biden would meet, Cui said “it may be too early to talk about the schedule for our leaders next year” because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cui said that in any case the key issue was the nature of the US policy towards China.
“If it’s a policy of kind of containment or kind of forming a so-called united front against China, then whether it’s unilateral or multilateral, the difference is only if you are digging the trap yourself or you are digging the trap with your friends. It makes no real difference,” he said, adding that the US’ relationship with some of its allies “cannot go back to the past”.
China-US power competition brings a Cold War arms concept back into fashion
Asked about his greatest success in his role in the US in the last seven years, Cui said he had a better understanding of the complexities and potential of the relationship between the two countries.
“On the whole, I’m still confident that if we can really work together, if there’s a genuine desire on both sides to show mutual respect, to acquire mutual understanding, we can do a lot of good things together. We can make both countries great again,” he said.
He also hoped the staff of the incoming Biden administration would have a good understanding of today’s China.
“What is causing this lack of understanding is insufficient genuine will to acquire such understanding. And honestly, some of my American colleagues, they still are not ready to have genuine mutual respect. Without mutual respect, you can never acquire very good mutual understanding,” Cui said.
02:23
China calls US order to close Houston consulate ‘political provocation’
Meanwhile, in an article by the China-United States Exchange Foundation’s website China-US Focus, former foreign vice-minister He Yafei said the two countries should seize the chance to resume dialogue and ease tension.
“As things stand now, it’s premature to restart strategic dialogue,” He said.
“But it’s possible for both sides to engage and converse in relevant areas and take measures to rebuild confidence and trust in tandem with Biden’s taking office,” he said, referring to pandemic controls and mitigation, economic and trade ties, financial cooperation, cybersecurity and military crisis control.
