President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the United States.

Xi made the remarks during talks with visiting US President Donald Trump in Beijing.

Xi stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability, he said. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy, he added.

"Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water, he said.