Beijing's foreign minister says China, US can achieve 'great things'

China's foreign minister said on Tuesday that Beijing and Washington can achieve "many great things" as long as they work together, ahead of the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump next month.

Initiatives such as financial talks and cross-border drug control "fully prove that as long as China and the United States cooperate, we can accomplish many great things", Wang Yi said at a symposium in Beijing.

The world's two largest economies have butted heads over a range of issues in recent years, from trade and technology to human rights and China's growing assertiveness towards the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

Wang said during the address at an opulent state guesthouse on Tuesday that Beijing's policy towards Washington "has not changed".

However, he also said China had "resolutely opposed illegal and unreasonable suppression by the United States, especially its crude interference in China's internal affairs on issues such as Taiwan".

"We must take a firm and strong response, resolutely defend our own legitimate rights and interests, and safeguard the basic norms of international relations," Wang said.

"We hope the new US administration will make the right choices, work with China in the same direction, eliminate disruptions, overcome obstacles, and strive for stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations," Wang said.

China claims the self-ruled island of Taiwan as part of its own territory and has not ruled out using force to seize it.

Taiwanese officials said last week that China had held its biggest maritime drills around the island in years, although Beijing never officially confirmed them.

The China-US relationship may sour further after Trump is inaugurated on January 20, with the president-elect vowing more tariffs to punish what he calls unfair trade practices by China. Beijing denies the allegations.