China calls for further co-op with US on trade

BEIJING - Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for further economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States, saying the two "share extensive common interests".

He urged the two nations, especially business communities, to step up their cooperation as one of the means to promote a dynamic, stable and sustainable development of the world economy.

China-US trade cooperation makes up a significant part of the bilateral relationship, which has maintained a "generally stable momentum of growth," Xi said during his meeting with a delegation from the US-China Business Council.

He told the delegation, led by Coca-Cola's Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent, that the US business community had made notable efforts to foster China-US relations as well as business cooperation.

Xi said China and the United States, respectively as the biggest developing and developed countries, share extensive common interests as well as responsibilities under a new and changing regional and international context.

"A healthy and sound relationship serves the fundamental interests of our two nations and will be conducive to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," said the vice-president.

Kent said strong US-China trade relations would help stabilize the current international economic and financial situation.

He said the US business community would continue to help push forward economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.