Relations between Washington and Beijing have grown tense since US President Donald Trump activated new tariffs on roughly half of Chinese imports this summer while Beijing fired back with tariffs on most US products.

Some of the US lawmakers attending the meeting with Li in China's leadership compound have expressed concern over Trump's trade tactics.

"Over the past four decades, the China-US relationship has had its share of ups and downs, but, generally speaking, it has been moving forward all along,"

Li told the US delegation.

"We do hope that China and the United States will meet each other halfway and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and equality," Li said.

The working relationship between the two capitals has been further tested recently by a speech by US Vice President Mike Pence accusing China of military aggression and technology theft.

On Wednesday, Washington indicted 10 Chinese, including two intelligence officers, alleging a hacking scheme to steal technology from US companies.

Li suggested it was still possible to get relations back on track.

"In this way, our two countries will be able to overcome differences and have the wisdom to overcome the obstacles and move our relationship forward on an even sounder track," he said.

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a critic of the Trump tariffs, led the group of Republican lawmakers.

"Your country and our country are competitors but not adversaries. And we believe that with mutual respect we can continue to prosper together,"

Alexander told Li.

"I would like to take this time to, first introduce my delegation, second to make a request that I think will be not easy but not so hard for China to do and, third to discuss trade," Alexander said before reporters were ushered out.

This summer the senator lamented the devastating effect the tariffs were having on his home state. (AFP)