China-US mutual trust grows despite gaps: new envoy

WASHINGTON - There is growing mutual trust between China and the United States, and China is firmly committed to seeking a new type of inter-power relationship, Cui Tiankai, China's new ambassador to Washington, said on Wednesday.

Cui, who met US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier Wednesday, told reporters that he does not agree with the so-called deficit of trust between China and the United States. Instead, he believed mutual trust is growing.

"We have worked together on so many issues, and on some of these issues we will certainly have different interests and have different policies," he said, "but still we have managed these issues quite well and the overall relationship is still developing."

"Maybe the level of confidence is not as high as we would like to see, but it is certainly growing," he added.

Cui noted that the relationship between China and the United States is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world, and that both sides have attached great importance to the sound development of this relationship.

He stressed that China is firmly committed to building a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit with the United States and to the joint exploration of ways to build a new type of relationship between big powers.

"Of course there would be difficulties and problems we have to face. But I think both sides have displayed determination to work together, to solve these problems and difficulties and to respond to any possible new challenges," Cui said.

When asked about the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Cui reiterated that a diplomatic solution is "the only feasible and viable option on the table".

"There is no other alternative. And between China and the United States, between China and other partners of the six-party talks, we have to work together for a peaceful solution to the issue," he said.

China urged all parties to remain calm and refrain from any actions that may escalate tensions, Cui said.

Cui arrived in Washington on Tuesday to serve as the 10th Chinese ambassador to the United States. He was Chinese vice-foreign minister from 2010 to 2013, and prior to that, Chinese ambassador to Japan.