CPPCC calls for less containment in Sino-US ties

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- There should be more cooperation, and less "containment" in Sino-U.S. relations, said Zhao Qizheng, spokesman of the third session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), here Tuesday.

"The Americans need to understand that the China-U.S. relation is like a car that have two drivers instead of one. The Chinese and Americans both have wheels and brakes, so they have to discuss with each other to drive the car forward on the right track," he said.

"Otherwise, the car will only spin around and stay where it is," he said.

Zhao said the United States should be responsible for the current retrograde bilateral relationship with China,

The annual session of CPPCC, China's top political advisory body, will open Wednesday afternoon.

Sino-U.S. relations experience "spring chill"

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Sino-U.S. relations experienced a "spring chill" at the beginning of 2010, said Zhao Qizheng, spokesman of the third session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Tuesday.

Zhao made the remarks in response to a question about China-U.S. relations at a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

He said two events happened during the first 20 days of 2010 that chilled the China-U.S. ties, referring to the Obama administration's arms sales plan to Taiwan and President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama despite strong opposition from China.

"These two events damaged China's core interests," Zhao told hundreds of domestic and foreign journalists. "The China-U.S. relations are like changes in weather, from sunny days to cloudy days, and this has aroused Chinese people's concerns."

"The responsibility of the setback of the Sino-U.S. relations lies with the U.S. side," he said. "This is like playing tennis, the United States served the ball and what China did is simply strike the ball back."