NEW YORK: Chinese Premier Li Qiang told a group of American business executives Thursday that the US and his country need “to work in the same direction” to further what he called “the most important bilateral partnership in the world.” Li told the roughly 20 executives and others interested in US-China relations that their insights were valuable, and “the actions that you take are crucial.” Journalists were escorted from the room after Li’s brief opening remarks at the event, hosted by two nonprofit groups, the US-China Business Council and the National Committee on US-China Relations.