Washington, Mar 8 (IANS): Relationship with China is vital for the US and the government is intent in pursuing a more constructive relationship with the Asian nation, a US State Department spokesman has said.

"China is an absolutely vital relationship for the US. We want to build a more constructive relationship with China," acting spokesman Mark Toner said here on Tuesday during the first State Department press briefing since Trump took office, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We're going to look for areas that we can expand our cooperation," added Toner.

He also reaffirmed the long-standing one-China policy. "There's no change to our long standing policy on cross-strait issues," said Toner.

The spokesman added that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reaffirmed the policy in his confirmation hearing and President Trump agreed in his phone call in February with Chinese President Xi Jinping that he agreed to honour the one-China policy.