China hopes the United States will not exclude China when it loosens its export restrictions, Yao Jian, a spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce said in Beijing Monday.

Yao's remarks came after the United States said over the weekend it might change its exports control regime.

The US should treat all countries equally and not discriminate against China in its export policies, Yao said at a press conference.

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in Hong Kong Sunday "concrete proposals" for changes in the exports control could be expected within the next several months.

Locke said the review will help with "the sale of highly sophisticated technology that might be embedded in some of the machines and devices like wind turbines, and the software that might operate these very sophisticated systems."

The United States' 1979 Export Administration Act limits the export sales of commercial high-technology goods to China. It is considered one of the causes for the trade imbalance between China and the US.

Reform of export restrictions may help the US expand exports and create jobs, Yao said.

It would also ease the US trade imbalance and expand Sino-US cooperation, Yao added.

Trade volume between China and the United States in the first four months of this year increased 25 percent to US$107.18 billion.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2010)