Chinese FM: We need to build a China-US Cooperative partnership

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi called on the US and China to further their peaceful ties while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asserted that "the world is looking for China to play a role that is commensurate with its new standing". Jiechi delivered a speech from Beijing to the Conference on China-US Relations addressing the US Institute of Peace in Washington by video. "We hope that the United States will see China's development in the right and objective way, and take more steps to increase our mutual trust," said the Chinese FM in the video broadcast on the website of Chinese news agency (Xihnua). He indicated that both China and the United States were Asia-Pacific nations with similar interests. "China welcomes a constructive role played by the United States for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. And we hope that the United States will respect China's interests and concerns in the region, and work with us to blaze a trail of sound interactions and win-win cooperation between two big countries," he explained. Jiechi expressed his hope that the US would "abide by principle and honor its commitments" on issues related to Taiwan and Tibet to avoid setbacks in China-US relations. From her part Clinton indicated that China's growth comes in parallel with a new set of responsibilities. "The international community wants some confidence that a country’s growing power will be used for the benefit of all," she explained in remarks during the conference, published on the US Department of State website. Chinese Xinhua news agency reported that China planned to raise its defense budget to $106.4 billion in 2012. "We do believe China will have to go further to fully embrace its new role in the world to give the world confidence that it is going to, not just today or on one set of issues, but for the long run, play a positive role that will enhance security, stability, and prosperity," said Clinton in reference to Western efforts to cease violence in Syria to which Beijing refuses participation.