Wang: Strive for more cooperation, fewer differences

China hopes its list of cooperation with the United States could be longer, while that of differences will get increasingly shorter, a top Chinese diplomat said in Washington on Wednesday.

Among the items on the list is to continuously ramp up mutually beneficial collaboration on a wide range of areas and expand cooperation on international and regional issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, according to State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"We need to stay clear of disruptions and overcome difficulties and work together to ensure that the China-US relationship will continue to enjoy sound and healthy development," Wang said at a news conference with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after they met in Washington on Wednesday.

Both Wang and Pompeo have highly commended the strategic guidance that President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump provide to the China-US relationship, according to a news release from the Foreign Ministry.

"We are ready to work to implement the series of consensuses reached by the two presidents, including respecting each other's core interests and major interests and properly handling Taiwan and other sensitive issues," Wang said.

When asked by a reporter if there is any change to the US' commitment to the one-China policy, Pompeo said, "No change. It's the same policy that America's had consistently. There has not been any change there."

Wang said he hoped that the two sides would implement the important consensuses made in the US-China trade talks May 17-18. "We believe it is important that both sides are willing to do addition instead of reduction to ease as early as possible and finally address the trade imbalance," he said.

In his talks with Pompeo, Wang also said he hoped the two sides will open up markets to each other and protect intellectual property rights.

"We know that the discussions are ongoing," Pompeo said. "Our trade teams will continue their regular engagements on these very important matters to each of our two countries."

Wang said China firmly supports the planned June 12 meeting between Trump and Democratic People's Republic of Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. He urged the US side to grasp the current opportunity to create peace and make history.

Trump on Wednesday said the fate of the landmark summit with Kim will be decided "next week", saying, "We will know next week about Singapore. And if we go, I think it will be a great thing for North Korea."

A day before, the US president said there is "substantial chance" it may not work out.

Pompeo said the US side appreciated China's efforts on the Korean nuclear issue and China's positive role in the DPRK-US dialogue.

He said countries including China, the US, South Korea and Japan are all fully committed to a bright future for the DPRK if Pyongyang is willing to denuclearize.

He added, however, that "until that time arrives, the pressure will continue".

Wang also said the Pentagon's decision to disinvite the Chinese military from the 2018 Rim of the Pacific Exercise is a decision that was "taken lightly" and "unconstructive".

The US Department of Defense on Wednesday disinvited China from the major US-hosted naval drill, known as RIMPAC, which is held every two years in Hawaii in June and July.

"We find that a very unconstructive move; it's also a decision that's taken lightly," Wang said.

The move is unhelpful to mutual understanding between China and the US, Wang said, adding that China hoped the US will change what he called a negative mindset.

He said that China's deployment of defensive facilities on its islands in the South China Sea is legitimate and necessary.

"Both China and the US are big countries, and we are well positioned to have greater cooperation in maritime safety and increase mutual trust," he said. "It will help us to make joint efforts toward world peace and stability."

Wang made a stopover in the US capital en route to China after a visit to Argentina.