A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman urged U.S. politicians running for the U.S. presidency to be responsible, noting that maintaining the development of China-U.S. relations is a joint responsibility for the two countries.

"Speaking words responsibly and doing things responsibly is how a responsible politician behaves," spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing on Monday in Beijing.

Hong made the remarks when asked to comment on the former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's words in the Wall Street Journal blasting the Obama administration's China policy on February 16.

Romney has repeatedly criticized China's policies on issues concerning trade, human rights and national defense, and has threatened to designate China as a currency manipulator and take counteraction on his first day in office, if elected.

"Those irresponsible and groundless accusations are not even worth refuting," Hong said.

The spokesman stressed that the growth of China-U.S. relations has served the interests of the two nations, which, therefore, makes maintaining relations their joint responsibility.

(Xinhua News  Agency February 27, 2012)