China has critcised the "pitiful" and self-inflicted political deadlock in America over raising the country's borrowing limit, as premier Li Keqiang added his voice to concerns that the worldâs biggest economy could default on its debt.

Mr Li told John Kerry, US secretary of state, that China was paying âgreat attentionâ to the issue of raising America's $16.7 trillion (£10.5 trillion) debt ceiling.

China is the largest foreign owner of US debt, holding more than $1.277 trillion in Treasury bills.

Mr Li's remarks, published by the state-owned Xinhua News Agency, follow comments by vice finance Minister Zhu Guangyao on Monday that "the clock is ticking" and any US default would have global repercussions.

A spokesman for the US government said Mr Kerry had made clear to Mr Li that President Barack Obama was "committed to resolving the issue."