BUSAN, South Korea -- President Xi Jinping said here on Thursday that China and the United States should ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-US relations.

During a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Xi said that since Trump's reelection, they have spoken on the phone three times, exchanged several letters and stayed in close contact.

Under their joint guidance, China-US relations have remained stable on the whole, Xi said.

A few days ago, in the latest round of consultation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the economic and trade teams of the two countries reached basic consensus on addressing respective major concerns, which provided the necessary conditions for the meeting today, he said.

Given different national conditions, the two sides do not always see eye to eye with each other, and it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then, Xi said.

"You and I are at the helm of China-US relations," said Xi. "In the face of winds, waves and challenges, we should stay the right course, navigate through the complex landscape, and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-US relations."

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