China ready to strengthen communication with US, safeguard interests: NPC spokesman

China stands ready to strengthen communication with the United States at all levels and through various channels to create broader space for cooperation between the world's two largest economies, a senior official with China's top legislature said on Wednesday.

At the same time, China has its own principles and red lines, and will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, said Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, at a news conference on Wednesday.

Beijing has consistently maintained that, as two major countries in the world, China and the United States should respect each other, coexist peacefully and pursue win-win cooperation, Lou said.

He noted that head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–US relations.

Since last year, the leaders of the two countries have maintained regular communication, and bilateral relations have remained generally stable and improving, which has been widely welcomed by both peoples and the international community, he added.

Facts have proven that cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both, Lou emphasized.

As long as the two sides fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, uphold the principles of equality, respect and mutual benefit, expand the list of cooperation and reduce the list of differences, China–US relations can advance in a stable manner, he said.

The NPC stands ready to maintain exchanges with the US Congress and contribute, from the perspective of legislative bodies, to the stable and healthy development of China–US relations, he added.

Lou also expressed hope that the US Congress will view China and its development objectively and rationally, and take more actions conducive to bilateral relations and the friendship between the two peoples.