Premier Li Keqiang talks with a group of leading figures in the United States' financial, think-tank and media circles in New York, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

NEW YORK - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met here Tuesday with a group of leading figures in the US financial, think-tank and media circles to discuss bilateral ties and issues of common concern.

Among the 17 attendants were former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, IBM Chairman, President and CEO Ginni Rometty, Chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group Stephen Schwarzman, President of Columbia University Lee C. Bollinger, and PBS host and journalist Charlie Rose.

"It is a fact that China and the United States have both stable political relations and very close economic and trade cooperation," Li said in his opening remarks at the closed-door talks.

"I was told that, for every second, one Chinese customer buys an iPhone," said the Chinese premier, who is here for a series of UN conferences.

Noting that the band of "old friends" and "new friends" is of great representativeness and influence, Li said he is very happy to have this opportunity to exchange views with them on China-US ties and other issues of common concern.