BEIJING (REUTERS) - China said on Thursday (Nov 2) that it has not intentionally sought a trade surplus with the United States, after President Donald Trump called the US trade deficit with the country "embarrassing" and "horrible".

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the comments at a regular briefing in Beijing.

Trump will begin a trip to Asia on Friday, visiting five countries including China. He also told reporters on Wednesday that every trade deal the United States has is "disastrous".