China’s relations with US ‘moving forward’, says premier, amid strains over territorial claims in South China Sea

China’s relationship with the United States will only improve, whoever wins the US presidential election, as the two nations common interests expand, China’s Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

Li said that as China had become the US’s top trading partner, with two-way trade reaching US$560 billion, differences between two countries have been outweighed.

“I believe that in the end no matter who gets into the White House the underlying trend for US-China ties will not change.” Li told a press conference at the end of the National People’s Congress in Beijing.

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His comments came as relations between the two countries have been strained over US naval patrols near Chinese controlled islands in disputed areas of the South China Sea. The US says the missions are to exercise freedom of navigation in international waters.

Li said that as co-operation between China and the United States grows the number of differences may naturally rise, but the percentage of problems in their overall relationship will fall.

He said there were over 100 mechanisms for dialogue to manage any differences between the two sides.

“As long as the two sides act in good faith and properly manage their differences, I believe our common interests will further expand,” he said.