China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday welcomed U.S efforts to improve strained relations between the countries.
At a Chinese news conference, Qin Gang responded to the meetings, saying "China appreciates President Obama's and Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg's positive stance on promoting China-U.S. relations," "He reaffirmed our one China policy and our support for the efforts made by Beijing and Taipei to reduce friction across the Taiwan Strait."
Obama "also stressed the need for the United States and China to work together and with the international community on critical global issues including nonproliferation and pursuing sustained and balanced global growth," the statement read.
The conciliatory words from the two powers came after Chinese envoy, Zhang Yesui, met Obama and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg on Monday
While those tensions have not evaporated, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang indicated that his government wanted to lower the temperature of contention.
"China appreciates President Obama's and Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg's positive stance on promoting China-U.S. relations," Qin told a regular news conference in Beijing.
Qin did not give any details of Zhang's discussions with Obama and Steinberg. But Qin said his government "took seriously the U.S. side's reiteration of its principled commitments on the Taiwan and Tibet issues."
"Recently, there have been uncalled for disturbances in China-U.S. relations, and this does not suit our common bilateral interests," added Qin. "Healthy China-U.S. relations suit the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples, and is beneficial to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world," he said.