BEIJING - Blaming China will not solve problems in the United States or help presidential candidates win more votes, a Foreign Ministry official said on Friday.

"The US itself will never benefit from politicizing trade issues and promoting protectionism," said Xie Feng, director-general of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry.

The department is in charge of diplomatic affairs with 18 countries in North America and Oceania including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the island countries in the South Pacific.