Days after sending congratulations to the newly inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China hopes the new U.S. administration can treat bilateral relations objectively and rationally.

As two major countries, China and the United States share extensive common interests in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity, and shoulder special and important responsibilities, Zhao said in a regular press briefing.

"China and the United States will gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation," Zhao said. "Cooperation is the only right choice for both sides."

Zhao said the Trump administration took "a series of wrong actions" that has led to "an unusually critical situation" for China-U.S. ties.

Beijing recently slapped sanctions on 28 Trump-era officials, describing senior diplomat Mike Pompeo as a "doomsday clown" who "is notorious for lying and deceiving." 

According to the White House, Biden is planning to review hardline policies left by the Trump administration. The Biden-lead government is approaching its relationship with Beijing with "patience," said Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

In the Tuesday briefing, Zhao reiterated the need for cooperation. We hope the new U.S. government will meet China halfway, manage differences and push China-U.S. relations back on the right track of healthy and stable development, Zhao said.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: File photo of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. /Xinhua)