Premier handles crunch time deftly

Although he seemed to have sidestepped the question regarding advice on "loss of American jobs", an answer might have been found in his banquet speech, when Li said investment from China and the massive amount of its imports from the United States have created nearly 1 million jobs in the US.

Despite the two countries' ever-increasing cooperation, misconceptions are rife in both countries, said Robert Hormats, vice-chairman of international consultancy Kissinger Associates.

He first said to the premier, "Thank you for having us in your hotel," and then he listed critical and negative reports from media of each country. Finally, he asked Li if there was anything that he finds frustrating about misconceptions that some in the US have about China.

The premier said he still believed that mutual understanding and common interests between the two nations far outweigh misconceptions and differences.

"Just now you said coming to my hotel. Well, this is a misconception I wanted to clarify here," the premier said.

"As far as I know, the stake of the hotel was bought by an entrepreneur of a private company in China, and I heard it is under long-standing management by an American businessman," Li said. "So I'm still staying at an American hotel."

Chinese insurance giant Anbang Insurance Group bought the WaldorfAstoria New York for $1.95 billion in 2014.