Beijing, China - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US and China need to work through and overcome a range of obstacles ahead of a major summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping in September.

Wang highlighted a range of problems in relations between Washington and Beijing, saying he saw risks and challenges despite generally improving ties.

The remarks came on Wednesday during a meeting with US Ambassador to China David Perdue, who was appointed by Trump, according to a statement released on Thursday.

He called on both sides to "focus on the positive agenda, properly manage differences, remove interference and overcome obstacles to high-level exchanges between the two countries," according to Chinese state-run broadcaster CCTV.

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Wang said that China-US relations "still face various risks and challenges" ahead of the Trump-Xi summit in September, and need to do a lot of work to normalize relations ahead of the meeting.

He demanded the implementation of agreements reached by the two country leaders, and a more appropriate approach to managing differences.

The meeting came just days after Washington threatened to impose sanctions on Iran's trading partners.

China is considered the main buyer of Iranian crude oil and hit back in a blistering statement that accused the US of imposing "illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law."

Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to visit Washington in September, after Trump formally invited him for a state visit during their meeting in Beijing in May.

Both sides remain locked in a tariff dispute, however, that has been paused until November. The issue is likely to feature prominently on the agenda during talks between Trump and Xi.

In a statement posted to X, Perdue touted his meeting with Wang, explaining they "[worked] together to achieve a constructive relationship of strategic stability with fairness and reciprocity."