WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is on a four-day state visit to the United States, on Thursday spoke highly of China-U.S. economic cooperation and trade, saying they have become an important foundation for bilateral ties.

    In his speech given at the welcoming ceremony on the White House South Lawn, Hu said "the mutually beneficial and win-win China-U.S. economic cooperation and trade benefit our two peoples and promote the economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large."

    Economic cooperation and trade between the two countries "have become an important foundation for China-U.S. relations," Hu said.

    Hu urged the two sides to view and approach bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective.

    "The Chinese people have always cherished goodwill toward the American people," Hu said. "Thanks to the concerted efforts made by our two governments and our two peoples over the years, our friendship has grown from strength to strength and yielded rich fruit," Hu added.

    The Chinese president said that China and the United States, as two countries of significant influence in the world, "share important common strategic interests in a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation and trade, security, public health, energy and environmental protection, and on major international and regional issues."

    Enhanced interactions and cooperation between China and the United States serve the interests of our two peoples and are conducive to world peace and development, Hu said.

    "We should, on the basis of the principles set forth in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, respect each other as equals and promote closer exchanges and cooperation," said Hu. "This will enable us to make steady progress in advancing constructive and cooperative China-U.S. relations and bring more benefits to our tow peoples and the people of the world."

    China is ready to work with the U.S. side in a spirit of seeking mutual benefit and win-win outcomes to properly address each other's concerns and facilitate the sound and steady growth of bilateral economic cooperation and trade, Hu said.

    China's strategy of boosting domestic demand and ensuring fast and balanced economic and social development will create more opportunities for economic cooperation and trade between the two countries, Hu said.

    "We will continue to advance the reform of the RNB exchange rate regime, take positive steps in such areas as expanding market access, increasing import, and strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights, and further expand China-U.S. economic cooperation and trade," Hu said.

    Hu said China is ready to expand friendly people-to-people exchanges and enhance exchanges and cooperation in science, technology, culture, education and other areas.

    The Chinese president said China is also ready to enhance dialogue and exchanges with the U.S. side on the basis of mutual respect and equality to promote the world's cause of human rights.

    The United States is the first leg of his five-nation tour, which will also take him to Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya. Enditem