BEIJING- China and United States should respect each other's core interests and manage their differences, Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday, adding that a decoupling of their economies is not good for the world.

"I believe both countries should respect each other and develop a relationship on the basis of equality, respect each other's core interests and major concerns and embrace cooperation," Li said in his annual news conference after the close of the annual meeting of parliament.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo, Kevin Yao and Yew Lun Tian Writing by Stella Qiu Editing by David Goodman) ((yifan.qiu@thomsonreuters.com; 86-10-66271289;))