US, China should develop co-op despite differences: Obama aide

The United States 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," Rhodes said, adding that the two countries, as well as the world, have a lot in stake in Sino-US 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.

At the briefing, Rhodes also said the United States is " optimistic" that the two countries can make good progress in terms of practical cooperation at the sixth annual bilateral Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) slated for July 9-10.

He also said the United States expected a cyber dialogue between the two countries to take place at the forthcoming S&ED. China halted the activities of a US-China working group on cyber security following US indictment of Chinese military officers on allegations of cyber theft in May.

"It's better we talk to one another about these issues, have a forum for sharing information, raising concerns and working through those issues," Rhodes said.