'Cooperation only right choice to bolster ties', Chinese President Xi Jinping tells Donald Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday told US President-elect Donald Trump that cooperation was the "only right choice" to bolster ties between the two major powers, in the first contact with the US President-elect who in his campaign had accused China of snatching American jobs.

In his first telephonic conversation since Trump won the US presidential election last week, Xi congratulated him on his election victory, state-run CCTV reported.

In its report on Xi-Trump talks, China's state-run CCTV quoted Xi as saying diplomatic relations between the two countries in the last 37 years brought tangible benefits to the people of the two countries.

"Cooperation has proven to be the only right choice," Xi said.

"I attach great importance to China-US relations and am ready to work with the US side to carry forward bilateral ties and to better benefit the two peoples and the rest of the world," he told Trump.

The two leaders "established a clear sense of mutual respect for one another", a statement from Trump's transition team said.

"President-elect Trump stated that he believes the two leaders will have one of the strongest relationships for both countries moving forward," it said.

Trump said he agreed about US-China relations and hopes for mutual benefits and win-win results. He also expressed willingness to strengthen ties.

Trump's call with the Chinese President is the only readout issued by the transition team of the numerous phone calls received by the president-elect from world leaders.

"The two agreed to maintain close contact and build a good working relationship," it added.

Earlier, Xi had congratulated Trump on November 9 soon after his victory and called for cooperation between the two economies to maintain global peace and stability as well as improving bilateral ties shunning confrontation.

In his earlier message to Trump, Xi hoped they could work together to boost China-US relations so as to better benefit peoples around the world.

As the biggest developing country and the biggest developed country respectively and being the top two economies of the world, there are many things in which China and the US can and should cooperate, state-run Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

Also, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday said China stands ready to further promote its relations with the US on the "new starting point" following Trump's election.

Beijing was ready to push forward China-US ties on new starting point, state-run Xinhua quoted Wang, who is currently touring Turkey, as saying.

Asked whether China has made contact with Trump's team, Wang told the media in Ankara that China maintains close contact with the US side at various levels.

China is willing to continue its cooperation with the administration of outgoing US President Barack Obama, so as to ensure a smooth transition of bilateral ties to the next US administration, Xinhua quoted Wang as saying.