China urges US to promote Asia-Pacific stability

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday said China and the United States have extensive common interests in the Asia-Pacific region, urging the US side to promote mutual trust in the region.

Spokesman Qin Gang said at a routine press briefing that China and the United States should respect each other, enhance cooperation and make joint efforts with other countries in the region to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The United States and the Philippines signed on Monday a 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement to expand the rotational presence of American forces in the Philippines. US President Barack Obama said that Washington was not trying to "contain" China.

China has noticed that US officials have made similar statements on different occasions, Qin said, stressing that the country will keep an eye on US words and deeds.

The United States and relevant countries in the region should follow the historical trend and the people's desire for peaceful development and win-win cooperation, according to Qin.

Obama arrived in Manila Monday on a two-day state visit to the Philippines, the last leg of his four-nation Asia trip which also took him to Japan, the Republic of Korea and Malaysia.