We’re ready for open communication with U.S.: China

China’s foreign minister has called on U.S. President Joe Biden to drop the tariffs and sanctions imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump.
Beijing hopes the U.S. would change tack as soon as possible and abandon tariffs on Chinese goods, Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said on Monday at a policy forum in China’s capital.
“We are ready for open communication with the U.S. side,” the top envoy said, but he urged Washington to respect China’s core interests and stop smearing the Communist Party and China’s political system.
Relations between Beijing and Washington worsened during the Trump administration, which launched a trade war that saw tariffs slapped on Chinese imports and sanctions imposed on Chinese officials over the continuing crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
There has been no signal so far that Mr. Biden plans to reverse the Trump-era measures.
In his first phone call with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, the two world powers’ disagreements were on full display earlier this month.
The White House said Mr. Biden expressed fundamental concerns about Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices and also broached China’s crackdown in Hong Kong and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan.
In turn, “China’s president warned him against a confrontation that is definitely disastrous for both countries and the world,” Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.
More from Peoples Gazette

Abuja
Court orders NNPC to pay N10m damages to journalist over ghastly accident
Mr. Anika rammed his Peugeot 406car into the concrete barriers allegedly placed on the road by the NNPC officials without road signs in 2012.

Showbiz
Wizkid, Fireboy set new records with wins at the #14thHeadies
The Headies, is a musical award show which recognises outstanding achievements by Nigerian artistes in the Nigerian music industry.

Rights
FG directs TV stations to deploy sign language interpreters during news
The minister said that the directive would be officially communicated to all public and private TV stations on Tuesday.

Abuja
COVID-19: Abuja Task Force seals off clubs, threatens demolition
In a related development, the FCT Mobile Court sitting at Eagle Square has convicted 72 violators of COVID-19 health protocols.

Abuja
Court adjourns Omokore, others $1.6bn oil fraud trial over witnesses absence
Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs told the court that the two witnesses he had scheduled to call were both indisposed.

Agriculture
Expert advances replacement of antibiotics with organics in poultry production
“Indiscriminate use can also cause resistance in the use of antibiotics,’’ the veterinarian cautioned.