U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described China as the biggest geopolitical challenge facing the United States, while also calling ties with Beijing the most important relationship Washington must manage.

Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One en route to China, Rubio said Beijing is “both our top political challenge, geopolitically, and it’s also the most important relationship for us to manage, I mean, it’s a big, powerful country. We’re going to have interests of ours that are going to be in conflict with interests of theirs – and to avoid wars and maintain peace and stability in the world, we’re going to have to manage those,” Rubio said, without giving further details.

Rubio is accompanying U.S. President Donald Trump on a visit to Beijing, where Trump is due to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Rubio said the U.S. had already made clear to China that any support for Iran would “obviously” damage relations with Washington, adding that the issue would be discussed during the meetings in Beijing.

China is one of Iran’s most important international partners and provides economic support to Tehran.

Washington has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Chinese companies accused of engaging in illicit trade with Iran.

(dpa/NAN)