Positive signals hint at Sino-US ties getting back on track

Beijing, Sept 7 (ANI): A number of high-profile US guests, including the "positive signals" that emerged during the meeting between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, are an indication that both the countries are trying to get relations, which have suffered in recent months, back on track.

On Monday, both the leaders voiced optimism over the China-U.S. relationship and the will to work for stronger ties despite ups and downs.

According to China Daily, Wen said it was crucial at this moment for China and the US to develop a positive, cooperative and all-round relationship, which required arduous and long-term efforts from both sides.

"China is ready to work with the US to fend off various risks and continually push forward the relationship," he added.

For the first time, a cluster of high-ranking Chinese officials gave positive signals on Sino-US relations that have deteriorated during the past few months, the paper reports.

Earlier, Xu Caihou, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, gave a rare signal this year that military ties could be improved, telling John Hamre, president of the US Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), that his country is willing to maintain dialogue and contacts with the US to push forward military ties.

In a parallel development, during a meeting with a US team led by Deputy National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon and National Economic Council Director Larry Summers, Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Li Yuanchao, head of the Communist Party of China's Organization Department, said bilateral ties were "sound" though there were some sectors that needed to be improved.

Since the beginning of this year, tensions between China and the US continued to mount due to disputes over US arm sales to Taiwan in January, differences on China's currency policy, US interference in the South China Sea issue and its naval drill on the Yellow Sea. The two countries have also differed over the Iran nuclear issue and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. (ANI)