US eyes 'strong, normal, special' ties with China

US Secretary of State John Kerry attends a news conference in Beijing April 13, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday that the United States wants a "strong, normal and special" relationship with China as the Asian country is a great power with great ability to advance the world.

"We need to work together to do that," Kerry told reporters during a briefing Saturday night after he met with Chinese leaders during his first Beijing trip since taking office in February.

Kerry said the United States and China, as two of the most powerful economies in the world as well as two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, "you have the possibility of create synergy," which will benefit the whole world.

"We have a stake in China's success, and China has a stake in the success of the United States," said the top US diplomat, adding that his country welcomes a stable and prosperous China.

"We welcome Chinese investment in the United States," Kerry said, highlighting "huge" business opportunities in infrastructure projects, including water projects, transportation projects, and energy projects among others.

During the briefing, Kerry said the two countries will hold the fifth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in July.

Besides the S&ED, the two countries will continue to develop their bilateral relationship with the China-US High-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange and other mechanisms, Kerry said.

"Through these and other discussions, we will work to enhance mutual trust and understanding based on mutual respect between our countries," he said.

Kerry also told reporters that the United States and China will work together to ensure cyber security.

"Cyber security affects everybody," he said, "So we are going to work immediately on an accelerated basis on cyber."

Kerry said during his Beijing stay, he talked with Chinese officials on bilateral, global and regional security issues, beginning with the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Without giving specifics, Kerry said, "China and the United States, today, we committed ourselves to find a peaceful solution (to the situation)."

China is "very serious" about the denuclearization on the peninsula, he said.