China holds an optimistic attitude toward the development of Sino-U.S. relations, Premier Li Keqiang said at a press conference on March 15.

Diplomatic authorities of the two countries are communicating on a face-to-face meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, Li told reporters at the end of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

The two presidents have talked over the phone after Trump took office and agreed to push forward China-U.S. relations, Li said. He noted that the U.S. president and senior officials from his administration have explicitly stated that the United States will continue to follow the one-China policy.

"This policy constitutes the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, which has remained unshaken in spite of the changing circumstances, nor can this foundation be undermined," Li said.

"With that foundation in place, we believe there are bright prospects for China-U.S. cooperation," he added.

Addressing trade issues, Premier Li said trade and investment between China and the United States created 1 million jobs in the United States in 2016. Li also cited his conversation with a manager of a Chinese firm, who he met during the NPC session. The manager said though China has a trade surplus with the United States, Chinese manufacturers' profit margins can be as low as 2-3 percent, while 90 percent of profits go to American partners.

Statistical methods may vary, but the two countries can talk with each other to iron out differences, Li said, adding that the China-U.S. relationship is crucial not just to the two countries, but also to regional and global peace, security, and stability.

China doesn't want to see a trade war between the two countries, which will be detrimental to both, Li said. The two countries have the wisdom to manage differences, as well as the need to expand common interests, he added.

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