China 'watching' US closely, says Xi Jinping

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger on Friday.

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Beijing: China is watching US political developments closely after Republican Donald Trump's victory in presidential polls, President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

He made the remarks during his meeting with former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, Reuters reported.

The US president-elect Trump had bitterly criticised China during his campaign for the White House, particularly on the issue of Chinese imports.

He also had threatened to slap 45 percent tariffs on imported Chinese goods.

"The presidential election has taken place in the United States and we are now in a key moment. We on the Chinese side are watching the situation very closely.

“Now it is the transition period," the news agency quoted Xi as saying.

"Overall, we would like to see the China-U.S. relationship move ahead in a stable and sustained manner," Xi told Kessinger.

Xi had telephoned Trump following his victory and sought his cooperation to beef up bilateral ties.

He also reportedly stressed that Beijing and Washington should continue cooperation for development of bilateral trade relations.