Maintaining a sound and healthy China-U.S. relationship is the common aspiration of people in both China and the United States, and also the expectation of the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said during a press conference.

He made the remarks on Monday in response to media reports that some 80 American influential figures including Asia specialists, veteran diplomats and former military officers are planning to write to President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress to express their concerns on US-China relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

According to the draft open letter, many of the actions by the Trump's administration are hurting America's relationship with China, and the policy of treating China as an enemy while trying to disconnect it with the global economy is actually damaging the US international role and reputation, and is also undermining the economic interests of all countries.

The letter is reportedly to urge Trump to rethink his China policies.

China was described as a strategic competitor that "seeks to replace the United States as the pre-eminent global power" in Trump's 2018 U.S. National Security Strategy. However, the letter points out that such a fear that China will replace the U.S. as the global leader is exaggerated.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang noted that during their recent meeting at the G20 Summit in Japan, presidents of China and the United States have agreed to jointly advance bilateral relationship featuring coordination, cooperation and stability. The two sides have also announced resumption of the economic and trade consultations based on equality and mutual respect.

Geng stressed that as long as the two sides stick to the principles and directions agreed upon by the two countries' top leaders, Sino-American relationship will be better maintained to benefit the people of the two countries and also the world at large.