Washington - Saba:
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that the United States desires a relationship based on respect with China, indicating that Washington will defend its position in the event of a dispute with Beijing.
"We must be able to interact with the Chinese side, even if only to avoid misunderstandings. Therefore, we must maintain our relations with them," Rubio said in an interview with Fox News.
He added, "We strive for a relationship based on respect.But on issues where we disagree, we must always defend the American position."
US President Donald Trump announced last week that the United States is currently working to complete a trade deal with China.
"We are in the process of completing our deal with China," Trump said during his participation in the "Winning the AI Race" summit.
Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, the first of its kind during the Trump administration. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Malaysian capital.
During the meeting, Wang called for joint efforts to find the "right path to understanding" between China and the US in the new era, stressing the importance of Washington approaching Beijing objectively, rationally, and pragmatically.