deal with repressive regimes such as Myanmar and Sudan , both of which are friends of Beijing and major energy suppliers to China . Critics of the U.S. president say he is downplaying what was once a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy , the promotion of human rights and democracy , in order to persuade China to help the United States achieve its foreign policy goals . But Obama insists America `` will never waver in speaking up for the fundamental values that we hold dear . '' Gao acknowledged global concern about China 's human rights record , admitting the situation is not perfect . `` But if you look at today 's human rights issues , and comparing that with what we had 30 years ago , 20 years ago , or 10 years ago , then China has made great improvements , '' he said . Gao said China and the Chinese people are great admirers of America . But he said , `` China 's foreign policy is underlined by the principle of non-interference in each other 's internal affairs . If it is only up to the United States to discuss human rights issues
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The relationship between China and the United States is `` the most important '' bilateral relationship in the world , a former Chinese foreign ministry official said Monday . Victor Zhikai Gao , now the director of the Beijing Private Equity Association , told CNN 's Christiane Amanpour that the United States should deal with Beijing `` with respect '' and not be `` too abrasive . '' `` That 's the minimum thing we can ask for , I believe , '' he said on the eve of talks between President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao . Gao pointed out that China is now the United States ' largest creditor nation , holding foreign reserves of more than $ 2 trillion , about two-thirds of which are assets that are denominated in U.S. dollars . `` China-U.S. relations are the most important bilateral relations in the world , '' Gao said . Obama appears keen to put past U.S.-Chinese disagreements behind him as he seeks Chinese cooperation on a host of issues from the global economy and climate change to nuclear proliferation . He 's also looking to China for leadership on how to