US 'must respect our regional interests', says China

07.03.2012

The United States must respect China's interests in the Asia-Pacific region, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said as Washington tries to assert more influence in the area.

China and the US "have more converging interests in the Asia-Pacific region than anywhere else in the world", Yang said at a news conference during the national legislature's annual session.

"We hope to see and welcome a constructive role by the US in this region and at the same time we hope that the US will respect China's interests and concerns.

"We are ready to work with the US and other countries to develop an Asia-Pacific region that enjoys greater stability and development," he said.

Yang's remarks come against a backdrop of the US focusing more on Asia-Pacific affairs amid military disengagement from Iraq and Afghanistan.

US President Barack Obama unveiled a defense strategy in January which advocated a greater military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Trade issues have also come to the fore recently and the US Senate on Monday voted to uphold Washington's ability to impose duties on what it claims are subsidized goods from China. Opponents of the measure say it escalates tension between the two countries.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also pressing for a greater US diplomatic presence in the region. When taken together some analysts believe that these measures are aimed at containing China's growing regional influence.