Chinese President Hu Jintao put forward a five-point proposal here on Thursday for further development of Sino-U.S. relations.

Hu made the proposal during his speech at a welcome luncheon Thursday hosted by friendly organizations in the United States.

"In the face of the complex and fluid international situation and various risks and challenges, the people of our two countries should step up cooperation and work with people across the world to share opportunities, meet challenges and build a better future for mankind," Hu said.

In the first decade of this century, China and the United States worked together and made steady progress in building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st century. China-U.S. relations have reached unprecedented breadth and depth, said the Chinese president.

"Given the ever changing circumstances in the world and in our respective countries, what should we do to take a sound and steady China-U.S. relationship into the new decade?"

"To answer this question, one must, first and foremost, identify the basis for the development of China-U.S. relations. It is fair to say our two countries have never enjoyed such broad common interests and shouldered such important common responsibilities as we do today."

-- Both China and the United States are committed to upholding world peace and stability and reforming the international system.

-- Both China and the United States are committed to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

-- Both China and the United States are committed to stronger bilateral cooperation in all fields to the benefit of the two peoples.

"Looking ahead, we are fully confident about the prospects of China-U.S. relations. Here I would like to propose that we take the following steps to advance the sound and steady growth of our relations," said Hu.

First, bear in mind the overall interests, take a long-term perspective and make active efforts to advance China-U.S. cooperative partnership. The China-U.S. relationship is not one in which one side's gain means the other side's loss.

Rather, it should be a relationship in which the two sides respect each other and endeavor to deepen strategic mutual trust. It should be a relationship that highlights common interests and stronger cooperation in all fields. The two sides should view and handle the bilateral relations from a global perspective and in keeping with the trend of the times.

"We should keep our relations on the path of equality, mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and common development. And to do that, we should increase high-level exchanges, deepen and expand communication at all levels, better appreciate each other's strategic intentions and development paths, and further increase mutual trust, dispel misgivings and build consensus," said Hu.

Second, seize opportunities and take innovative steps to build a new pattern of mutually beneficial economic cooperation. Both China and the United States are advancing economic restructuring, increasing inputs in environmental protection, new energy and technological innovation, and promoting the development of health, education and other social programs.

"All this presents new opportunities for us to foster new areas of economic cooperation. China wants to work with the United States to forge a framework of broader and stronger economic cooperation. We can carry out fiscal, financial, and business cooperation on a larger scale, expand exchanges and cooperation in energy, the environment, agriculture, health and other fields, and broaden cooperation in new areas such as aviation and space, infrastructure and smart power grids. In this way, we will make our business ties even stronger and create more jobs and wealth for our people," he said.

Third, intensify communication and consultation and deepen coordination and cooperation in addressing global challenges and international and regional hotspot issues.

China and the United States should pursue global cooperation as partners to fulfill common responsibilities and meet common challenges.

"We should enhance consultation and coordination on global issues such as the Doha Round negotiations, climate change, energy and resources security, food security and public health security through bilateral and multilateral channels, maintain dialogue and exchanges on regional security, regional cooperation and hotspot issues, and work together for a more equitable, just, inclusive and better-managed international system."

"We should stay committed to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, engage in open and inclusive regional cooperation, and turn the Asia Pacific into an important region where China and the United States work closely with each other on the basis of mutual respect," he added.

Fourth, deepen friendship, be forward-looking, and vigorously promote friendly exchanges between various sectors of the two countries. The development of China-U.S. relations, in the final analysis, hinges on the broad support and active involvement of people from all walks of life in the two countries.

"We should draw up a good plan for our exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology and other fields, and encourage more dialogue and exchanges between the legislatures, local authorities, business communities, academic institutions, media organizations and other sectors so that more and more people will become supporters of stronger China-U.S. relations and get actively involved in this worthy cause."

"We need to put in extra efforts to boost exchanges between our young people and carry out diverse forms of youth exchange to ensure that the younger generation will carry forward China-U.S. friendship," he said.

Fifth, treat each other with respect and as equals, and handle major, sensitive issues in a proper manner.

"A review of the history of our relations tells us that China-U.S. relations will enjoy smooth and steady growth when the two countries handle well issues involving each other's major interests. Otherwise, our relations will suffer constant trouble or even tension."

"Taiwan and Tibet-related issues concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and they represents China's core interests. They touch upon the national sentiments of the 1.3 billion Chinese. We hope that the U.S. side will honor its commitments and work with us to preserve the hard-won progress of our relations," said Hu.

"China and the United States are different in history, culture, social system and development level. It is thus only normal that we have some disagreements and frictions," Hu noted.

"We should view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and with a sense of responsibility to history and to the future. We should prevent our relations from being affected or held back by any individual incident at any particular time. We should increase mutual trust, remove obstacles and work together to build a China-U.S. cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit," said the Chinese president.

Hu arrived in Washington Tuesday for a four-day visit to the United States. The trip is aimed at enhancing the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between China and the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2011)