Carter urges Obama to work closely with China on key global issues

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, whose administration formalized diplomatic ties with China 30 years ago, urged President-elect Barack Obama to find ways to work more closely with Beijing on global issues.

Carter also called the US-China diplomatic relationship the most important in the world today and predicted it would continue to greatly benefit both sides for decades to come.
Carter said both sides had to overcome periodic tensions and find ways to cooperate on issues including climate change, terrorism and the world financial crisis.

“The main thing is for the new administration to work harmoniously with China ... and overcome those differences which are inevitable and seek out the best ways to cooperate as partners,” Carter said.

Human rights issues have also been a consistent source of friction between the two sides, with the U.S. pushing China to improve its poor record, including its religious repression and silencing of political dissidents. But, Carter, a recipient of the U.N. Human Rights Award and a fierce critic of United States’ own human rights violations under the Bush administration, did not make any public comments on the issue on this trip.