Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on China and the United States to overcome their differences ahead of an expected summit next month between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Wang made the remarks during a meeting with US Ambassador to China David Perdue on Wednesday, according to China's state broadcaster CCTV.
He urged both sides to focus on areas of cooperation, properly manage their differences, reduce interference and clear obstacles to high-level exchanges between the two countries.
China-US relations still face "various risks and challenges," Wang said, according to CCTV.
Trump and Xi met in Beijing in May and agreed to keep bilateral ties stable and maintain a fragile trade truce. Trump invited Xi to visit the United States for a meeting on Sept 24, although the exact date of the Chinese president's visit has yet to be confirmed.
Despite the agreement, Washington and Beijing have continued taking targeted economic measures against each other. The United States has banned imports of newly manufactured Chinese humanoid robots, while China has restricted American entities involved in trade and other activities in the country.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing Thursday that the two countries were continuing discussions on the leaders' planned meeting "within the year."
Tensions between the world's two largest economies rose sharply after Trump returned to the White House last year. At one point, the US said tariffs on Chinese goods could reach 145%, although the rates were later reduced significantly.
Tensions have eased in recent months, and the two leaders reached several agreements during their May meeting, including plans to establish trade and investment boards between the countries.
However, the Trump administration has been considering an additional 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods following a US investigation into excess industrial capacity and production in 16 economies. No final decision has been announced.
The US also said last month that it would impose a 12.5% tariff on China following an investigation into forced labour involving 60 economies.
China's Commerce Ministry said Thursday that Beijing "firmly opposes" the US investigation into excess capacity, accusing Washington of "politicizing economic and trade issues."
The ministry said China would closely monitor developments and "reserves the right to take all necessary measures" if required.
Last month, China also rejected Western criticism over its industrial overcapacity in a report titled "China's Position on the So-called Excess Capacity Issue," saying Beijing had never sought to maintain a large trade surplus.