China hopes the United States will work with it to maintain stable bilateral ties, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.
Spokesperson Lu Kang was responding to the recent remarks of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
According to media reports, Tillerson, in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. Wednesday, alleged China's "provocative actions" in the South China Sea directly challenge international law and norms, while accusing China of economic activities and financing that saddles developing countries in the region with enormous debt.
Lu said China has always been committed to the international system with the United Nations at its core and defending the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
In the development process, China will not sacrifice the interests of other countries, nor give up its own legitimate rights and interests, said the spokesperson.
China is committed to a long-term, healthy and stable China-U.S. relationship, Lu said, noting that such relationship is in accordance with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, as well as the interests of countries in the Asian-Pacific region.
Lu said China hopes the United States could treat China's development and international role without prejudice, and maintain the stable development momentum of bilateral ties.
