China willing to jointly counter terror threat with US

China opposes any form of terrorism and is willing to work together with the US to counter the threat of terrorism, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.

Both sides should make efforts to realise positive interaction and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, Wang said when he met US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel Wednesday at the Pentagon.

China respected the traditional US influence and realistic interests in the Asia-Pacific region and supported it in playing a constructive role in the Asia-Pacific affairs, while the US should respect China's status and influence in the region, its need for reasonable development space and its legitimate rights, he said.

China hoped the US would properly handle those issues that hinder the development of China-US ties, such as its sales of weapons to Taiwan, and its warships and military aircraft's approaches to China for surveillance, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister expressed appreciation for Hagel's constructive role in pushing ahead the relations between the two countries and armies.

China and the US should build strategic mutual trust, very importantly the mutual trust between their armies, and reduce mistrust, he said.

Expressing congratulations on the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Hagel said that the US and China were partners, not rivals, and there were far more common interests than differences between the two countries.

The US-China relations should move ahead along the right direction in the 21st century and the two countries should be jointly dedicated to safeguarding world peace, security and stability, Hagel said.

This was what the peoples of the two countries and the whole world hoped to see, he said.