China-US should work as partners, not rivals, says Foreign Minister

China has no need or intention to displace the United States and the two countries should strive to become partners in cooperation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

The two must respect each other, combine strengths and pursue win-win cooperation for a sustained, healthy and steady growth of the bilateral relations, he told a news conference on the sidelines of the ongoing national two sessions.

"China and the US don't have to be rivals. If there is any competition, it has to be healthy and positive," he said.

As the top two economies of the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council, working together will not only benefit the two countries but the entire world, he noted.

China's success is underpinned by its commitment to peaceful development and win-win cooperation, meaning that its path is completely different from that of traditional powers.

"Therefore, the conclusion that China will replace the US is fundamentally wrong. China is on a long march to modernization. It has no need or intention to displace America."

In fact, the more China develops, the more contributions it will make to the world, he said.

The minister also said that trade war is never the right solution in a globalized world, as it will harm both the initiator and the target country.

"In an event of a trade war, China will make a justified and necessary response…But the two countries interests are so deeply intertwined that we should bear in mind the interest of our own people and the well-being of the world," Wang said.

He suggested the two countries to have a calm and constructive dialogue as equals in order to find a win-win solution.