China's President Xi Jinping prepares to shake hands with US President Barack Obama. (AFP Photo)
Washington:
A rising China, which has been worrying its neighbours with its aggressive behaviour including over the South China Sea, needs to restrain itself in order to play a responsible role at the world stage, US President Barack Obama has said.
"Part of what I've talked to communicate to President Xi (Jinping) is that the United States arrives at its power, in part, by restraining itself," President Obama told CNN in an interview.
"You know, when we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules, it's not because we have to, it's because we recognise that, over the long-term, building a strong international order is in our interests. And I think over the long-term, it will be in China's interests, as well," President Obama said in the interview that was recorded before he left for China.
"So where we see them violating international rules and norms, as we have seen in some cases in the South China Sea or in some of their behaviour when it comes to economic policy, we've been very firm. And we've indicated to them that there will be consequences," President Obama said.
He asserted that what the US has tried to emphasise to China is that if it is working within international rules and international norms, then they should be partners.
There is no reason that China and the US cannot be friendly competitors on the commercial side and important partners when it comes to dealing with the many international problems that threaten the two countries, he said in response to a question.
President Obama noted that China has been run during his lifetime by a communist party that has been much more anti-Western in the past.
"We went through a period over the course of 20 years, in the '90s and on through maybe the onset of my presidency, where, because state-sponsored capitalism and an export-driven model was very successful, China was less interested in making waves," President Obama said.
"But, you know, you've got over a billion people, one of the largest economies now in the world. And so it's to be expected that they will want a bigger seat at the table when it comes to international affairs. And what we've said consistently is we welcome the peaceful rise of Chin, consistent with international norms. That's good for everybody. An impoverished and collapsing China would be dangerous for everybody," President Obama said.
"Part of what I've talked to communicate to President Xi (Jinping) is that the United States arrives at its power, in part, by restraining itself," President Obama told CNN in an interview.
"You know, when we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules, it's not because we have to, it's because we recognise that, over the long-term, building a strong international order is in our interests. And I think over the long-term, it will be in China's interests, as well," President Obama said in the interview that was recorded before he left for China.
"So where we see them violating international rules and norms, as we have seen in some cases in the South China Sea or in some of their behaviour when it comes to economic policy, we've been very firm. And we've indicated to them that there will be consequences," President Obama said.
He asserted that what the US has tried to emphasise to China is that if it is working within international rules and international norms, then they should be partners.
There is no reason that China and the US cannot be friendly competitors on the commercial side and important partners when it comes to dealing with the many international problems that threaten the two countries, he said in response to a question.
President Obama noted that China has been run during his lifetime by a communist party that has been much more anti-Western in the past.
"We went through a period over the course of 20 years, in the '90s and on through maybe the onset of my presidency, where, because state-sponsored capitalism and an export-driven model was very successful, China was less interested in making waves," President Obama said.
"But, you know, you've got over a billion people, one of the largest economies now in the world. And so it's to be expected that they will want a bigger seat at the table when it comes to international affairs. And what we've said consistently is we welcome the peaceful rise of Chin, consistent with international norms. That's good for everybody. An impoverished and collapsing China would be dangerous for everybody," President Obama said.
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