'Sino-U.S. ties complex'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 3. The U.S. Ambassador-designate, Mr. Robert D. Blackwill, said today that his country's relations with Beijing were complex and characterised by strong points of convergence and divergence.

The U.S. and China shared interests in promoting ``peace and stability'' in the Korean peninsula and in countering drug trafficking, protection of the environment and in trade.

But, China's arms sales around the world and its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continued to concern the U.S. Not surprisingly, it had decided to impose sanctions on the China Metallurgical Equipment Corporation and the National Development Complex of Pakistan so that a ``strong signal'' about Washington's commitment against missile proliferation could be sent to both countries.

Rejecting the notion that the U.S. was looking at India as a counterweight to China, Mr. Blackwill said Washington favoured friendly ties between New Delhi and Beijing. Similarly, it was not opposed to the growing partnership between Russia and China. He clarified that the U.S. was comfortable with such bilateral arrangements provided they were not directed against its interests.

Asia, according to Mr. Blackwill, was ``absolutely critical'' for safeguarding U.S. interests in the future.

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