China stresses 'peace strategy' in talks
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-09 20:40

China said on Friday it used talks with the United States to spell out the global benefits of its economic growth and its "peaceful development strategy."

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick (L) gestures alongside China's Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo before their session of the U.S.-China Senior Dialogue at the State Department in Washington December 7, 2005. China said on Friday it used talks with the United States to spell out the global benefits of its economic growth and its 'peaceful development strategy'. [Reuters]

At a two-day "strategic dialogue" in Washington between Chinese and U.S. diplomats which ended on Thursday, China explained that its "development is acting responsibly not only to the Chinese people but also to the world," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The "dialogue" was the second such meeting between Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.

The meetings are intended to encourage officials from Beijing and Washington to explore cooperation at a time when trade disputes and military rivalry often unsettle relations.

Zoellick and Dai discussed the nuclear disputes with Iran and North Korea among other global issues, as well as bilateral trade friction in China, said Washington officials.

The talks highlighted shared policy goals in trouble spots like Iran and North Korea but Washington wants Beijing to be more helpful in tackling global problems, a U.S. official said in Washington on Thursday.

"Without always pursuing the same policies, we can still pursue the same policy goals with complementary approaches," Zoellick said in a written statement issued after the talks ended on Thursday.

Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory to be reunited by force if necessary, was not prominent in the talks.

The two sides discussed their increasingly close but tense trade relations, said the Xinhua news agency.