Chinese media hopes John Kerry will be ‘less aggressive’ than Hillary

China Monday congratulated US Senator John Kerry over his appointment as the new Secretary of State, saying the two countries should now explore "new type" ties, as official media hoped Barack Obama's new appointee would be less aggressive compared to Hillary Clinton.

"We congratulate Senator Kerry on his nomination as Secretary of State," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here when asked about his appointment.

"China is ready to work with US to push for greater progress in China-US cooperative partnership and actively explore the new type of relations between China and US as major countries in the world," she said.

Kerry, the current chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will succeed Clinton in the new Obama administration.

Commenting on his appointment, state-run China Daily said it could make US policy towards China less aggressive.

"The diplomatic wisdom of incoming US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to improve China-US relations, as the Obama administration seeks to rebalance its Asian strategy during the president's second term," it said.

The analysts recalled Kerry's support for trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, to "balance China's economic influence in the region". Ruan views Kerry as professional, calm and pragmatic, and expects him to initiate strategic dialogues between China and the US.

ALSO READ

LeJ, death squads loom over Baloch polls

Pak prosecutor handling 26/11 attack, Bhutto assassination cases shot dead

Veteran BBC sportscaster Stuart Hall admits 14 indecent assaults

Indian-origin widow 'in bits' over husband's mystery death