The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress is considering inviting to China the writers of two reports submitted last week to the US Congress.
One report was submitted by the Pentagon and the other by the US-China Security Review Commission and have both been rejected by China, regarding the reports as pursuing the "China threat'' theory.
Zeng Jianhui, chairman of the Congress Foreign Affairs Committee for the past four years, told China Daily in Beijing: "We'd like to invite them so they can look at China from a different perspective and address any misconceptions they have about the country.''
Zeng said some US Congress members did not understand China well enough. "They misunderstand the rise of China and we need to provide them with a chance to take a better look at our goodwill for world peace,'' Zeng said.
Meanwhile, the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee will closely watch how the US Congress reacts to the two reports.
Zeng said the NPC plans to increase exchange visits with the US Congress.
"I'd like to see no confrontation or bickering but, instead, efforts to find more common interests and truth in a matter-of-fact way,'' he said.
Zeng said he recognized there was a problem due to lack of knowledge, misunderstanding and the influence of unbalanced media reports about China in the United States. "But I do not want to see more quarrels provoked unnecessarily in a cold-war-style way,'' he said.
Dialogue is the best way to settle differences and problems and to build up mutual understanding and trust, Zeng said.
"We expect to help people in America learn that a developed China will be a beneficial force, instead of a threat, for not only the United States but Asia and the whole world,'' Zeng said.
The National People's Congress will help US Congress members find information on sensitive concerns such as human rights, Zeng said.
Zeng said a few high-profile groups of US Congress members will come to China in the coming months for important discussions.
Zeng said US Congress members will be able to visit churches, temples and prisons anywhere in China, including in the Tibet Autonomous Region if they want, to get to know the country better.
More frequent exchanges between the Chinese and US congresses are vital for better Sino-US relations, Zeng said.
Zeng said members of his committee were ready to be as frank as possible during discussions with members of the US Congress.
(China Daily July 26, 2002)
