China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the Communist Party of China (CPC) is striving for national rejuvenation, not looking to challenge the U.S., days after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on its allies to build a coalition to counter China.
During a trip to London last week, Pompeo identified China as the U.S.' "main rival" and accused China of taking advantage in trade, pursuing illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea, and not telling the truth over the coronavirus outbreak.
The top U.S. diplomat said Washington wants to build a coalition against the CPC, the Party that he claimed to be a threat to freedom and democracy.
U.S. experts criticize Pompeo's 'primitive' anti-China rhetoric
Four Questions: What's next for China-U.S. relations?
Pompeo has denied the development of China-U.S. relations over the past 40 years, and smeared and attacked the CPC, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at Monday's press briefing, adding that such words have been refuted and rejected by peace-loving people and those with a sense of justice.
The CPC has always put people's interests in the first place, and that's the reason behind its long-term ruling in China, Wang said.
"The CPC aims to realize the great renewal of the Chinese nation, not to replace the U.S.," he said.
Bilateral relations can only achieve a stable and healthy development on the basis of equal treatment and respect, Wang said.
"China never seeks to change the U.S., and the U.S. cannot change China. We are willing to advance the bilateral relations featuring coordination, cooperation and stability," he said.
Wang also said the current situation in China-U.S. relations is not what China desires to see, and Beijing hopes the U.S. to immediately retract its wrong decision and create necessary conditions for bringing the bilateral relationship back on track.
(CGTN's Su Yuting also contributed to the story.)