President Xi Jinping shakes hands with John Kerry, secretary of state of the United States, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday. Feng Yongbin / China Daily

Xi says US should handle differences and enhance trust

China and the United States should properly handle and control differences to prevent them from detracting from their relationship's progress, President Xi Jinping told US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Beijing.

China's relationship with the US is stable, Xi said, urging that the two work together to expand communication, trust and cooperation.

Beijing has called for increasing dialogue during Kerry's trip, which aimed to prepare for the annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in June and Xi's state visit to the US in September.

Tension escalated last week when Washington expressed concern over China's construction in the South China Sea and reports said the Pentagon planned to send military aircraft and ships to assert so-called freedom of navigation in the waterway.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong stressed on Saturday China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Construction on the Nansha Islands falls fully within the scope of China's sovereignty, they told Kerry during separate meetings.

Kerry underscored the relationship's importance, saying both sides are able to handle and control differences in a mature manner.

He called for greater cooperation between them and said the extensive US-Sino cooperation has shown the world the important roles they have played in addressing major global and regional affairs.

Xi highlighted progress in areas including trade and investment, saying he looked forward to continuing to developing his relationship with US President Barack Obama, and to upgrade ties through a new model of relationship between major countries.

"As I mentioned many times, the vast Pacific Ocean has enough space to accommodate the two big nations of China and the US," Xi said.

Da Wei, an expert on US studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said a mature relationship means the world's two largest economies won't allow the South China Sea issue to affect the whole relationship.

Da said that a key problem is Washington's rising suspicion over China's strategic intention, including the construction in the Nansha Islands, a security concept for Asia to resolve its own security problems proposed by Xi last year and the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Teng Jianqun, an expert on US studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Washington is uneasy with the possibly growing US-Sino competition in the economic and security sectors, but China has neither the intention nor ability to challenge the dominant US role in the world.

On Saturday, State Councilor Yang Jiechi told Kerry that both countries should view each other's strategic intentions from an objective and rational perspective, and he urged the US to do more good for regional peace and stability.

zhaoshengnan@chinadaily.com.cn