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China sees no point in dialogue with US as sanctions tighten

Beijing maintains "necessary contact" with Washington, the diplomat specified

BEIJING, May 22./TASS/. Chinese authorities see no reason to keep talking with the United States, so long as it pursues a wholly disingenuous policy and continues to step up pressure on China through sanctions, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told a briefing on Monday.

"Where is the sincerity and sense of dialogue, when the US side talks about the need to maintain contacts only to use them as a means to put pressure on China and hamstring our country," she asked.

Beijing maintains "necessary contact" with Washington, the diplomat specified. "The United States applies sanctions against individuals and organizations of the PRC," Mao Ning reiterated. "China is strongly against such unilateral restrictions, which are unlawful. We have strictly set forth Beijing's stance on this issue to the American side," she added.

Mao Ning urged Washington to "immediately lift sanctions" against China. "It is necessary to create a [favorable] atmosphere, favorable conditions for dialogue and contact," she explained.

US President Joe Biden said on Sunday during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, that he expected a thaw in Chinese-US relations in the near future. "We should have an open hotline," Biden stressed.

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