Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo speaks during the dinner party marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relation between China and the United States, at Brookings Institution in Washington, capital of US, Dec. 11, 2008. [Photo: Xinhua]

China, the largest developing country, and the United States, the largest developed country in the world, should see each other as partners rather than rivals, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo said in Washington on Thursday.

"It is all the more important for us to strengthen dialogue, coordination and cooperation. And it is all the more important for us to work sincerely together with all other countries and peoples to overcome the difficulties and challenges we face and create a better future for humanity," said Dai in a speech at the Brookings Institution, one of the oldest U.S. think tanks.

Reviewing the development of Sino-U.S. relations over the past 30 years, Dai compared it to changing from ping-pong to basketball, in a reference to the depth and breadth of bilateral relations.

Exchanges at top and other levels are becoming more and more frequent, he said, adding there are now more than 60 dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between the two nations.

"Our two countries have common views on more and more strategic issues... The common interests linking our two countries have widened and mutually beneficial cooperation has expanded and deepened... Our people's friendly ties have become more solid," he said.

What has happened in the past 30 years proves that, instead of undermining the United States' strength and advantages, China's development has in fact advanced U.S. interests, Dai said.

Referring to the current financial crisis, Dai said China has not stood by while the United States suffered from the crisis. Instead, China has bought more U.S. Treasury bonds, thus becoming the biggest holder of such bonds, and introduced a stimulus plan to expand domestic demand.

As for the so-called China threat, Dai said China's long-term intention, in a word, is development.

"We will achieve development through peaceful rather than non-peaceful, expansionist or predatory means," he said.

In his speech, Dai also urged both countries to respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and fully appreciate and respect each other's choice of political system and development model.

"We must adhere to the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs. The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in our bilateral relations. We must handle it properly," he said.

Dai is in the U.S. capital on a weeklong working visit for the sixth Strategic Dialogue between China and the United States.