Premier: US trade friction purely bilateral issue

China will not take advantage of any third party or undermine their interests amid the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, noting that the dispute is purely a bilateral issue, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

Li made the remarks in response to a question about the possible impact of Sino-US trade talks on relations between China and Europe at a news conference following the conclusion of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress.

Noting that China is the world's largest developing country and the European Union is the largest union of developed countries, Li said developing China-Europe relationship not only benefits the two sides, but also the world at large.

There has been cooperation as well as friction in their relations, Li said, and the two sides should continue to apply, in their ties, the good experience gained in managing their differences in the past.

According to Li, ongoing negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty between China and the EU are aimed to further facilitate the two-way flow of investment so that both sides will benefit from an agreement on an equal footing.

"The two sides should treat each other in an open-minded way and properly handle differences during cooperation so that our relationship will continue to grow steadily," he said.

The premier also announced that he will visit Europe next month to engage in a new round of the China-EU summit with EU leaders.

"I hope that both sides will view this relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective," he said.

The premier also reaffirmed China's commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula along with hopes for peace and stability on the peninsula.

"China's position has never changed," he said, noting that a proper settlement of the issue is in the interests of Pyongyang and Seoul, the region and the whole world.

According to Li, the Korean Peninsula issue is complicated and cannot be resolved overnight.

He called on all parties concerned to be patient and seize the opportunity to promote dialogue, especially dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, to achieve results desired by all.

Li said both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the US have expressed a readiness to stay engaged with each other after the Hanoi summit, and it is better to have such engagement than no contact at all.