China and the United States should properly address differences as well as make more effort to strengthen trust and regional cooperation, Premier Li Keqiang said during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing on Saturday.

Based on mutual respect and equality, the Chinese side is willing to enhance coordination with the US on major global and regional affairs, as well as tackle global challenges to realize inclusive cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, Li said.

Kerry's visit to China on Saturday and Sunday came amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. The Foreign Ministry accused Manila on Friday of being heedless of regional interests by backing a US plan to send military ships and aircraft near South China Sea reefs.

During their separate meetings with Kerry on Saturday, both Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, stressed China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Kerry, when meeting with Li, said the relationship between the US and China is not a competitive one. Instead, they should work together to boost development.

Both Li and Kerry highlighted the willingness to strengthen cooperation in areas such as climate change and to speed up negotiations over the Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Li especially called for pushing forward talks about the negative lists, on which foreign investments are restricted by host countries, in a constructive manner.

In April, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said China was "uncomfortable with" the negative list provided by the US, which is a key part of the ongoing negotiation of the Bilateral Investment Treaty between the world's two largest economies.

The premier also stressed China's commitment to reform and opening up, a path to sustain a healthy growth and achieve modernization, and said China's open door to the world will be bigger and bigger.