NEW YORK, Sept. 24 -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed here Tuesday the importance of economic cooperation as the "ballast" and people-to-people exchanges the "propeller" in China-U.S. relations.

Wang made the remarks while addressing a dinner co-hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, U.S.-China Business Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Council on Foreign Relations.