BEIJING, April 15 (Reuters) – China’s Vice Commerce Minister Li ‌Chenggang met a senior ‌Ford executive in Beijing this ​week, urging the U.S. automaker to deepen its presence in the Chinese market, according ‌to a ⁠commerce ministry statement on Wednesday.

“The Chinese and ⁠U.S. automotive industries have complementary advantages and broad prospects ​for cooperation,” ​Li ​told Ford’s chief ‌policy officer Steven Croley in a meeting on Monday, the ministry said.

Li expressed hope that Ford would continue ‌to deepen its ​presence in the ​Chinese ​market and strengthen ‌exchanges and cooperation with ​Chinese ​companies to provide more competitive products for Chinese and ​global ‌markets.

(Reporting by Ethan Wang ​and Ryan Woo. Editing by ​Mark Potter)