'China hopes US to properly handle issues regarding Taiwan'

China on Friday expressed hope that the US could properly handle issues regarding Taiwan, so that the overall cooperation between the two countries is not affected.

The reaction by the Chinese Foreign Ministry came after US President Donald Trump promised to honour the "one China" policy during a telephonic conversation with President Xi Jinping on Thursday night in an effort to ease diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Xi said he appreciated Trump's stressing that the US government adheres to the one-China policy, adding that the policy is the political basis of China-US relations, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Sound political interaction is of crucial importance to the healthy and stable development of China-US ties," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press conference.

"The long-term, healthy and stable development of China-US relations not only serves the fundamental interest of the two people but also chimes with the aspiration of the international community," said Lu.

In their phone conversation, the first since Trump took office in January, Xi and Trump pledged to boost win-win cooperation in a variety of areas and develop a constructive China-US relationship.

--IANS

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