China willing to be partners, friends with US, says Chinese envoy

China is willing to be partners and friends with the United States, China's ambassador to Washington said, seeking to strengthen dialogue between the world's two largest economies, reports Reuters.
China has no plan to surpass or replace the United States, Xie Feng said in a speech in Hong Kong on Friday, addressing Chinese officials and the US ambassador to China.
Beijing is seeking to reset relations with Washington ahead of Donald Trump's return to the presidency in January.
Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on Chinese imports in excess of 60 per cent, but Beijing and Chinese companies hope his protectionist policies will also irk US allies in Europe and Asia, giving China an opening to increase its global influence and improve trade ties.