China welcomes the United States Trade Representative's decision not to accept a Section 301 petition on Chinese workers' rights, according to a spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday.

The Chinese government has always maintained that issues concerning China and the US should be settled through cooperation and dialogue, spokesman Chong Quan said, adding that since 2004 the two sides have developed fruitful cooperation in protecting labor rights and interests.

Chong said that policies that protect labor rights and interests in line with the reality of China are beneficial to the country's harmonious development.

China advocates consultation and cooperation in tackling Sino-US trade issues, in line with basic principles of development, equality and mutual benefit.

On June 8, 2006 the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) filed a petition requesting the USTR to launch a one-year Section 301 investigation of workers' rights in China.

The Office of the USTR announced on July 21 that the USTR had decided not to accept the petition.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2006)