Cooperation only right choice to strengthen ties: Xi to Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping today had a telephone conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump during which he said cooperation was the "only right choice" to bolster ties between the two major powers.
In his first call since Trump won the US presidential election last week, Xi congratulated Trump on his election victory, state-run CCTV reported.
Xi said tangible benefits have been brought to the people of the two nations in over 37 years of diplomatic relations.
He said "cooperation has proven to be the only right choice" and reaffirmed that China attaches great importance to relations with the US, and is willing to cooperate with the US, the channel reported.

Trump said he agreed about US-China relations and hopes for mutual benefits and win-win results. Trump also expressed willingness to strengthen ties.
"The two agreed to maintain close contact and build a good working relationship," it added.

Earlier, Xi had congratulated Trump on November 9 soon after his victory and called for cooperation between the two economies to maintain global peace and stability as well as improving bilateral ties shunning confrontation.
In his earlier message to Trump, Xi hoped they could work together to boost China-US relations so as to better benefit peoples around the world.
While China is the world's largest developing country and the US, the largest developed power, both, as the world's top economies, bear the special responsibility of maintaining world peace and stability and boosting global development and prosperity, and share extensive interests, Xi had said.

Also Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi today said China stands ready to further promote its relations with the United States on the "new starting point" following Trump's election.
Beijing was ready to push forward China-US ties on new starting point, Xinhua quoted Wang, who is currently touring Turkey, as saying.
Asked whether China has made contact with Trump's team, Wang told the media in Ankarathat China maintains close contact with the US side at various levels.
China, he said, is willing to continue its cooperation with the administration of outgoing US President Barack Obama, so as to ensure a smooth transition of bilateral ties to the next US administration, Xinhua reported.

Meanwhile, Beijing also stands ready to communicate with Trump's team, so as to cement mutual understanding and expand consensus on bilateral cooperation, Wang said.
He said Xi's message to Trump has charted the course for the future development of China-US ties, and China is ready to make joint efforts with the US side to that end, said the minister.