US, China should develop cooperation: Obama aide

The US and China should find common ground and develop cooperation even as the two countries disagree on certain issues, an aide to US President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

The two countries can have differences and articulate them publicly, but still find areas to cooperate, Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security advisor, said at a press briefing.

"If we have a difference in one area, it need not derail the entire bilateral relationship," Xinhua quoted Rhodes as saying, adding that the two countries, as well as the world, have a lot in stake in Sino-U.S. bilateral relationship.

While the US and China disagree on issues like cyber security and maritime territorial disputes, Rhodes said, the two countries continue to cooperate on Iran's nuclear issue and have broad economic cooperation.