BEIJING - China said Friday that it would like to hold dialogues with the United States on human rights based on equality and mutual respect, but hopes the country will not "put too much energy" into individual cases.

"We hope it (the United States) will not devote too much energy to individual cases or cases that involve violations of Chinese laws," said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, just before the third round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, which will be held in Washington on Monday.

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The two-day meeting will be co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

"If the United States looks at the development of China's human rights from a comprehensive, objective and historical perspective, it is necessary and beneficial to devote some energy to the issue, " said Cui at a news briefing in response to a question about US policies concerning human rights.

China and the United States held a new round of human rights dialogues in Beijing last week, discussing issues of common concern such as new human rights developments in both countries.

The human rights dialogues were held in compliance with a China-US joint statement issued during Chinese President Hu Jintao's US visit earlier this year, with the aim of "addressing differences on human rights in a spirit of equality and mutual respect, as well as promoting and protecting human rights consistent with international instruments".

Cui said the human rights dialogues are part of preparations for the upcoming strategic and economic dialogue. Cui said China would like to exchange views with other countries about the issue.

"We would certainly like to exchange views and hold dialogues with other countries on human rights based on equality and mutual respect," Cui said.

"But we also hope the outside world will take a practical and realistic attitude while observing the development of China's human rights," Cui said.

"The Chinese people are the most entitled to speak about the progress China has made on human rights," Cui said.