Sino-US ties set to be modified, diplomat says

A senior Chinese diplomat has suggested that Asia will be "the starting point" for forging a new type of relationship between China and the United States.

In a year-end interview with Xinhua News Agency, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao noted a "dramatic increase in engagement, competition, and gaming" by major world players in Asia.

Washington's high-profile "Rebalancing Asia" strategy has led to global concerns because some observers view the US as backing competing parties in disputes in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.