China: We are ready to improve relations with America while maintaining sovereignty

China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that Beijing is ready to work with the United States to improve relations, while at the same time strictly safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests. Ministry spokesman Guo Jiaqun made these statements in response to a question about Washington’s new security strategy at a regular press conference. The spokesman added that China hopes that the American side will move in the same direction, enhance dialogue and cooperation, and properly manage differences while building stable relations. After decades during which the United States focused on the rise of China, the strategy considers the Asian power a competitor to Washington, but it focuses largely on the economic aspect.