BEIJING -- China hopes to maintain a healthy and stable relationship with the United States, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said on April 13 when asked to comment on Hillary Clinton’s decision to run for the U.S. presidency.

“I have to emphasize that maintaining a healthy and stable growth of Sino-U.S. relations is in the common interests of both countries,” Hong told a daily press briefing.

Hong said a healthy relationship between the two countries was conducive to not only maintaining stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region but also the world as a whole.

Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton launched her bid for the 2016 presidential race on April 12. She was defeated by Barack Obama in her first presidential bid in 2008.

“China is ready to work with the U.S. to advance and make fresh progress on the development of a new type of relationship between major powers,” Hong said.

He declined to comment directly on Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, saying the presidential election was an internal affair of the United States.