Li: China, US have more common interests than disputes

BEIJING - There are far more common interests than disputes between China and the United States, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday as he met with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in Beijing.

Li said China and the United States, as the largest developing and developed countries in the world respectively, are highly complementary in terms of economy and share far more common interests than disputes.

China's market potential will provide the United States with great opportunities and the Chinese side stands ready to work together with the U.S. side to expand cooperation in trade and investment, energy and environmental conservation, and climate change among other areas, and push ahead with the negotiations on a bilateral investment deal, said the premier.

Li said he hopes the United States will take substantial measures to relax its restrictions on high-tech exports to China and provide a fair environment for Chinese companies investing in the United States.

A sound China-U.S. relationship is of great significance for the whole world as well as for the two nations, conducive to the global economic recovery and world peace and stability.

The two sides should uphold the right direction of bilateral ties in line with the consensus reached by the two heads of states, maintain the momentum of high-level interactions, and ensure the success of the next rounds of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the China-U. S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, said the premier.

Li proposed the two sides enhance communication and coordination on major regional, international and global issues and sincerely respect each other's core interests to make sure the bilateral relationship will advance in a healthy and stable way.

Reviewing the deepening and strengthening bilateral relationship over the past years, Lew said China's reform is encouraging and that the country's development is beneficial for economic growth of the United States and the world at large.

Lew said the U.S. side expects greater development of China and that the United States is willing to work together to ensure success of the forthcoming round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Lew, special representative of U.S. President Barack Obama, also pledged to step up communication and cooperation with China on climate change and other global issues.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on other regional and international issues of common concern.