Relationship with China is vital for the United States and the U.S. government is intent in pursuing a more constructive relationship with China, a U.S. State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.
"China is an absolutely vital relationship for the United States. We want to build a more constructive relationship with China," acting spokesman Mark Toner said here during the first State Department press briefing since President Donald Trump took office.
"We're going to look for areas that we can expand our cooperation," added Toner. "I think we want to build on our relationship with China."
Meanwhile, Toner again reaffirmed U.S. backing for the long-standing one-China policy.
"There's no change to our long standing policy on cross-strait issues," said Toner.
The spokesman added that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reaffirmed the policy in his confirmation hearing and President Trump agreed in his phone call in February with Chinese President Xi Jinping that he agreed to honor the one-China policy.
