WASHINGTON - State councilor Yang Jiechi on Tuesday urged China and the US to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in a bid to push forward bilateral relations. Yang made the remarks during a phone call with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Tillerson and Yang also discussed economics and trade as well as potential cooperation on counterterrorism, law enforcement and transnational crime, the US State Department said in a statement.

In a phone conversation earlier this month, President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump reached a consensus on safeguarding the foundations of China-US relations and promoting bilateral exchanges, paving the way for the next stage of development in China-US relations, Yang noted.

China hopes the two countries, following through on the spirit of the phone conversation, can uphold the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation as well as enhance high-level exchanges, Yang said.

He also urged the two countries to properly manage sensitive issues.

The call followed a meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Tillerson on Friday, their first face-to-face encounter since Tillerson began his job at the start of this month. In that meeting, Wang stressed that common interests between China and the US far outweigh their differences.

The US and China are important countries in the world, Tillerson said, adding that strong bilateral cooperation not only benefits both countries but also does good for regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.

"Secretary Tillerson and State Councilor Yang affirmed the importance of a constructive bilateral relationship," said Mark Toner, acting State Department spokesperson. "The two sides agreed on the need to address the threat that North Korea poses to regional stability."

Tillerson said the United States is willing to work with China to enhance mutual trust and develop ties.

Xinhua - China Daily - Reuters

(China Daily USA?02/22/2017 page1)