The U.S. can't suppose to always be at the top in technology, and countries need to talk to work with a powerful China, Mahathir said at a conference in Tokyo. He also appeared to side with Chinese telecom giant Huawei, which the U.S. has put on a blacklist.

 

'We try to incorporate their technology as much as possible,' Mahathir told the Future of Asia conference, noting that Huawei has achieved a 'tremendous advance over American technology.'

 

'We ought to accept that the U.S. cannot forever be the supreme nation in the world that can have the best technology in the world,' he said.

 

For months, the world's two number one economies have been locked in a standoff over trade balances and technology, including allegations that China uses unjust tactics, such as stealing trade secrets.

 

Mahathir's comments attracted praise from China's foreign ministry, which said it hoped all nations would listen carefully to the prime minister's advice and 'seek opportunities of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation.'

 

'All developing countries, including China and Malaysia, without doubt have the right to develop their capabilities and improve their technological progress,' ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at his daily briefing. 'In fact, towards the backdrop of economic globalization today, common development and common progress through mutually beneficial cooperation can open up more room for development for all countries.'

 

Lu added that U.S. has presented no evidence that Huawei is a tool of the Chinese government. 'The U.S. has been sidestepping the issue that everyone else is most concerned about all along, that is, whether it can present evidence,' he said.

 

In his comments Thursday, Mahathir mentioned that nations with different ideologies must be able to get along. 'It is worth it to talk to each other and stop this conflict,' he said. He cautioned that contrast between the U.S. and China would only contribute to 'greater destruction.'

 

'We want to see reasonable, responsible countries sit down around a table and discuss problems. How do we tackle China, a strong China which is very rich because China has got money,' he said.

 

Mahathir arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday and leaves Friday.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has meetings with Mahathir and chiefs of six other Asian nations this week, part of his administration's policy of courting Europe, the U.S. and other nations in part to counter China's growing global influence.

 

This article is originally posted on TRONSERVE.COM