Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for more mutual trust and closer cooperation between China and the United States.

Speaking at the opening of the annual China-U.S. dialogue on Monday, Xi said China and U.S. should properly manage their differences and sensitive issues and deepen strategic mutual trust and cooperation.

Like Us on Facebook

"As long as the two sides tackle differences and sensitive issues in the principle of mutual respect and equality, major disturbances in bilateral relations can be avoided," Xi said on the first day of two-day China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing.

"China and the United States have extensive common interests in the region and should maintain frequent dialogues, cooperate more, tackle challenges, jointly maintain prosperity and stability in the region, and cultivate common circles of friends rather than cultivate exclusive circles of friends," he stated, according to Xinhua. 

Describing the differences between two countries as normal, Xi stressed that China and the US should strengthen their communication and cooperation on Asia-Pacific affairs. He added that the Pacific Ocean should not become an arena for rivalry. "China and the United States should strengthen their mutual trust through regular communication in order to avoid strategic misjudgment," Xi sad.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised the South China Sea dispute at the annul event and urged China to find a diplomatic solution to the impasse. He stressed that the dispute over South China Sea territories between China and its Asia Pacific neighbours should be handled according to international laws.

"We are looking for a peaceful resolution to the dispute in the South China Sea and oppose any country resolving claims through unilateral action," he said.

The eighth China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues (S&ED) and the seventh China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) opened in Chinese capital on Monday. 

TagsUS, china, us china, Xi Jinping, John Kerry