BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China and the United States, the biggest developing and developed countries, should work together for their respective core and common interests.
Li made the remarks in Beijing during a meeting with a U.S. Congress delegation headed by Ed Royce, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Taking their respective core interests into consideration forms the basis for the boom of China-U.S. relations, Li said, urging the two to further increase mutual trust and manage their differences and disputes.
On the other hand, the expansion of common interests helps consolidate the foundation of bilateral relations, Li said.
To manage well the two types of interests is key to developing the two countries' cooperative partnership featuring mutual respect and mutual benefit, the vice premier said.
He stressed that China and the United States, although at different stages of development, could be more mutually beneficial than competitive.
He suggested the politicians of the two nations contribute their efforts to create favorable conditions to boost exchanges and cooperation between businesses, and humanitarian and cultural communities at various local levels.
Including Royce, five U.S, congressmen from the democratic and republican parties, responded to Li's remarks and agreed that U.S.-China relations are the most important bilateral relationship in the world.
They said the two American political parties would work actively to support two-way communication and dialogue, as well as the development of bilateral relations.
Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, also met the delegation on Thursday.