China on Wednesday urged the US to earnestly respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as take its key interests and people's feelings into consideration, upon the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the country.

The call was made by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his meeting with Clinton. Wen also urged the US to play a constructive role in dialogues and cooperation in Asia-Pacific affairs to maintain the region's overall peace and stability.

Wen noted that the China-US relationship has great influence in the world, and the relationship can only stay on track through joint efforts.

During a joint press conference held with Clinton, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang  Jiechi also brought forward the territorial issues, stressing that China's position on the South China Sea has been consistent and clear.

Disputes over the sovereignty of some islands in the South China Sea and the overlapping of ocean rights in some parts of the region should be solved by the countries concerned through dialogue on the basis of respecting history and international laws, Yang said.

Ni Feng, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the US' interference in China's territorial disputes with neighboring countries has escalated the contradictions and tensions in the region.

Raising regional tensions is one of the US methods to serve its Asia pivot strategy. If there were no tensions, there would be no value in its return to Asia, Ni said. "It would be difficult to see significant improvements in bilateral relations should the US not give up its pivot strategy. And it's not likely the US will give it up," he added.

During her talks with Vice Premier Li Keqiang, Clinton said the US stands ready to work with China to determine a new way for major powers to get along with each other in efforts to enable the Sino-US partnership to weather challenges and move forward.

On China-US economic and trade relations, President Hu Jintao called on both sides to properly handle the frictions and divergences.

The president hoped the US would firmly resist trade protectionism, ease restrictions on high-tech exports to China and provide a fair environment of competition for Chinese enterprises that invest in the US.

International issues such as the Syrian conflict was also discussed between the two sides, during which Yang reiterated that any solution to the crisis should come from the Syrian people, rather than be brought forcefully by outside forces.

This is Clinton's second trip to China this year. In May, she attended the fourth round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Xinhua - Global Times