Chinese Premier Li Keqiang
China and the United States can overcome their differences and get relations back on track if they work together in a spirit of mutual respect, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a group of visiting U.S. politicians on Thursday.
China and the United States are locked in an increasingly bitter trade war, with both countries have already placed tariffs on some of each others imports.
Meeting a group of Republican senators and one congresswoman in Beijing, Li said that over the past four decades of diplomatic ties, the China-U.S. relationship has had its "share of ups and downs".
"The sound and stable growth of China-U.S. relations serves the common interests and the fundamental interests of the people of our two countries," Li said.
Australia is to help Papua New Guinea (PNG) develop a navy base, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, the latest Australian action to protect its interests in the Pacific in the face of a more assertive China.Australia has for decades enjoyed largely unrivalled influence in the Pacific but China has in recent years turned its attention to a region blessed with abundant natural resources.PNG said this year China was interested in funding the re-development of a navy base on Manus Island, an offer that diplomatic sources said worried Australia and its Western allies.Morrison said in a speech in Sydney Australia would fund the project.TPP to take effect following Australia’s ratification"I will formally commit to a joint initiative to develop the base on Manus Island," Morrison said.PNG's navy is made up largely of patrol boats and landing craft.Morrison did not say if Australia's navy would have access to the base.He also did not say how much Australia would spend on the base. Australia has in the past used its foreign aid budget to fund similar security projects in the region.Australia must assess security threats in 5G network: spy chiefAustralia said this year it will use part of a record allocation of aid for PNG to lay an undersea internet cable, assistance aimed at shutting out Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd amid national security concerns.Competition in the Pacific shows little sign of abating."Australia was particularly worried about China funding the port ... in a strategically important region," said a Western diplomat who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media. 
Australia to help PNG build a navy base to fend-off China
"We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality," he added.
"In this way, our two countries will be able to overcome differences and have the wisdom to overcome the obstacles and move our relationship forward on an even sounder track."
Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander told Li that the delegation was there "to show our respect to a great country and a great people".
"Your country and our country are competitors but not adversaries. And we believe that with mutual respect we can continue to prosper together."
A two-day Asian Parliamentary Assembly held in Pakistan's strategic Gwadar city passed a unanimous resolution declaring an "unwavering support" for the Palestinian people.The resolution, which condemned the violation of the international humanitarian law in the Palestine and the war crimes committed by the Zionist regime, was adopted at the culmination of the assembly on Tuesday, an official statement said.Over 100 parliamentarians from 26 Asian countries, including China, Saudi Arabia and Iran participated in the conference, which also shed light on multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.The $64 billion project, which is the part of Beijing’s most ambitious foreign economic initiative -- One Belt One Road -- aims to connect northwest China to Pakistan's southwestern Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport cargo, oil and gas.This route will provide the shortest route to Chinese cargo destined for the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.The "Gwadar Statement" issued after a two-day meeting of the Asian Parliamentarians Assembly's Standing Committee on Political Affairs urged the members of the Assembly to take their mutual cooperation forward."While our Asian vision is focused on trade, economic and energy markets, it also carries a much-needed heed to help adapt to climate change and preserve the environment," the statement said.Palestinians in East Jerusalem boycott Israeli polls
Asian parliamentarians voice support for Palestine
Alexander said he would be discussing trade with Li, though neither of them mentioned the ongoing tariff war in remarks in front of reporters.
U.S. President Donald Trump has long threatened to impose tariffs on all $500 billion-plus goods imports from China if Beijing fails to meet his demands for sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property, technology transfers, industrial subsidies and local market access.
But Trump has not "set in stone" any decisions on escalating tariffs on Chinese goods and may withdraw some duties if there are promising policy discussions with China, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Wednesday.
Both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to attend the G20 summit in Argentina which starts at the end of this month, and could hold talks there.
Trump said in a television interview on Monday he thinks there will be "a great deal" with China on trade, but warned that he has billions of dollars worth of new tariffs ready to go if a deal isn't possible.
The United States has already imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, and China has responded with retaliatory duties on $110 billion worth of U.S. goods.