Beijing, China - China's Commerce Ministry urged President Donald Trump's administration to exercise "equal dialogue" with Beijing during a meeting with Apple boss Tim Cook.

Cook, who regularly visits China due to its position as a key Apple market and manufacturing powerhouse, met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Thursday, an official statement revealed.

During the meeting, Wang urged Beijing and Washington to "seek solutions to problems through equal dialogue and consultation," and welcomed Apples' "increased investment" in China.

"Recent fluctuations in the bilateral economic and trade relationship have been caused mainly by the United States' intensive rollout of new, restrictive measures targeting China," Wang said, according to Xinhua.

"These actions have severely harmed China's interests and undermined the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade talks."

The commerce ministry statement quoted Cook saying he considered good economic relations between China and the US as having "great significance."

Tensions between Beijing and Washington have risen in recent weeks following the former's decision to introduce sweeping restrictions on the export of rare earths amid Trump's global trade war.

Trump announced a 100% tariff hike in retaliation, blaming not only the rare earths restrictions but also China's 10% tariffs against the US. He also threatened to cancel an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Apple boss also met Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing's chief trade negotiator, Xinhua reported.

In an address to the advisory board of Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, He said China was "willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with countries worldwide."