China, US capable of ironing out differences

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes questions from the press during a news conference on the sidelines of the two sessions on March 8. [Photo by Kuang Linhua/chinadaily.com.cn]

Last week Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China's friendship with the United States and what China expects of Washington to maintain good bilateral relations. At a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of China's top legislature, he also said China, as a responsible country, has a broad and open mind and long-term vision for world peace.

Wang emphasized that China is neither the US nor does it intend to acquire the US' leadership role in the world, saying this is the core of China's political philosophy. Wang made particular mention of the "American mindset", and said it is the source of "America-style concern" that the US exhibits while dealing with an emerging power like China.

The US is obsessed with the "act-by-itself" mindset in international affairs, which makes it see "potential foes" everywhere, and its misperception of China is the result of its own worries, anxieties and misjudgments.

China neither intends to nor has the ambition to replace the US as the world leader. This fact is not related to whether China has the ability and capacity to do so; instead, it is related to the Chinese mindset and is deeply rooted in the Chinese nation.

Chinese people have long believed in the adage, "don't do unto others what you don't want others do unto you". The US follows the opposite principle.

Contrary to Chinese people's belief that a country can influence another only with virtue, the US believes in making other countries follow its line through force. The main difference between Chinese philosophy and the US mindset is that, the former puts emphasis on "sharing" while the latter advocates "exclusive enjoyment".