India, China can 'find common space to reduce tensions', says US

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday after assuming office for a second straight term that India would focus on finding solutions to border issues with China

The United States wishes India well in its efforts to improve strained ties with China, the number-two U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday, while cautioning that Chinese leader Xi Jinping finds it very hard to show any flexibility on territorial issues.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday after assuming office for a second straight term that India would focus on finding solutions to border issues with China, that have long strained ties between the neighbours.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who has led U.S. efforts to boost ties with India to push back against China's growing power, was asked at a Washington think tank about Jaishankar's comments.

"I think the truth is that anytime two countries can find a degree of the common space to reduce tensions, I think we have to support that," he said.