BEIJING: China has gone on a publicity push in recent days with a message meant to counter American critics: We’re not an economic or military threat, we’re trying to improve our system, work with us.

The bid to improve China’s image comes amid rising friction between the two nations and sharper criticism by senior Bush administration officials and US business groups.

The Americans say Beijing needs to better explain its rising defence spending, act more responsibly on the economic front and address human rights issues.

On Thursday, a senior Chinese official said problems between the two sides are to be expected but expressed confidence that reason would prevail in the often complex relationship.

“I do note that in the United States there are some people who still refuse to give up their Cold War mind set,” said the official, who requested anonymity in deal with the sensitive topic.

“Some Americans spread the ‘China threat’ argument. But I don’t think their preaching represents the mainstream.”

Earlier in the week, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing issued a statement on the ministry website highlighting areas of mutual national interest, including scientific exchanges, nonproliferation and regional security. Visiting congressional delegations also have received a similar message in recent weeks. Few of the arguments are new. But the concerted presentation is aimed laying the groundwork for the scheduled summit between Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Bush on Sept. 7 in Washington. The trip will be Hu’s first to the United States since he was tapped in 2003 to lead China.

Hu is slated to meet with congressional leaders and local officials, give a speech at Yale University and visit businesspeople in Seattle. He will also travel to Mexico and Canada.

But China has raised eyebrows in Washington defence circles with its weeklong joint-military exercise with Russia, which wrapped up on Thursday. And US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in an interview last week with the New York Times raised concerns about Beijing’s military, human rights and trade policies.

Analysts say Beijing is trying to come up with a new strategy to handle US-China relations, given the many bilateral irritants, but has still not settled on an effective approach.

“Beijing is very nervous about the ‘China military threat’ message voiced in the US,” said Zhu Feng, an international relations professor with Peking University. “We’ve not been sure exactly where the bilateral relationship stands.”

Chinese officials say they’ve taken several steps recently to address US concerns, an argument Hu is expected to make during the summit. Those include a move last month to revalue China’s currency, albeit modestly; an agreement on intellectual property rights; and the purchase of $5 billion worth of Boeing aircraft and several billion more on telecommunications equipment and agricultural products.

Beijing argues that the two economies are complementary, not competitive, but that the Americans share the blame for its large trade deficit with China, given that US export restrictions prevent Beijing from buying more American high-technology imports. —Dawn/LAT-WP News Service