US wants to work with China but won't on national security: Yellen compromise

The United States seeks to work with China on global challenges from climate change to debt distress, but will not compromise on areas like national security, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday.

Her remarks outlining Washington's approach to US-China ties come ahead of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings in November in San Francisco - where US President Joe Biden is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time since they conferred in Bali in 2022.

"We know the US-China relationship is among the most consequential in the world," Dr Yellen told an event in Washington. "We need to get it right."

She said the US is working to collaborate on international issues, including climate change and debt difficulties in low-income countries.

But Washington will not compromise on protecting its national security interests and advancing human rights, Dr Yellen added.