'Cooperation only right option for China, US'

There are far more common interests between China and the United States than differences, and cooperation is the only right option for both countries, Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the first session of the 13th National People's Congress, told the Sunday's news conference.

Zhang, who used to serve as Chinese ambassador to the US, said the trade between the two countries reached more than $580 billion last year, and it is natural that there are some frictions, considering the big volume of trade.

The two nations had consultations for the past couple of days, and agreed to continue with dialogue in Beijing in the upcoming period so as to create conditions for the deepening of bilateral cooperation, the spokesman said.

China does not want a trade war with the US, but will take necessary measures if the US takes actions to hurt its interests, he said.

The right approach to address trade disputes is to open up markets to each other, make "the pie of cooperation" bigger, and work together to find solutions acceptable to both sides through dialogue and consultation, Zhang said.

"It is important for both sides to perceive each other's strategic intentions correctly and with a fair mind," the spokesman said, adding that policies based on misjudgment will hurt the relations and bring about consequences neither side would want to see.