Both countries are capable of managing differences, Xi says

President Xi Jinping outlined on Thursday ways in which China and the United States can manage their differences.

They can do so as long as they respect each other's core interests, avoid strategic misjudgment and handle problems in a constructive way, he said. He also assured US business leaders that China is capable of maintaining "medium- to high-speed growth in the long term".

Xi made the remarks when meeting US representatives attending a China-US business leaders' dialogue in Beijing, ahead of his first state visit to the US next week since he took office in 2013.

On differences between the two countries, Xi said they must "keep the general goal in sight".

China and the US have been at odds over Washington's intervention in the South China Sea issue and allegations of Chinese cyberattacks against the US, which Beijing has dismissed.

The president also said China's slowing economic growth is the result of transforming the growth pattern, an adjustment to the economic structure, and effects from economic incentive policies that were implemented several years ago.

He said China and the US should strengthen coordination of macroeconomic policies and push forward global economic growth together, as well as protecting international financial stability.

"We will actively push forward facilitation of bilateral trade and investment," he said.

The US guests told Xi that business circles in their country support the China-initiated Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative - a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives, launched by Xi in 2013.

Referring to his upcoming visit, Xi said, "I attach great importance to it, and expect to exchange views with President (Barack) Obama on key issues of common concern."

The visit will take place from Tuesday to Friday, after which Xi will attend a series of summits in New York from Sept 26 to 28 related to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that during the visit both countries will "strive for new and important progress" in Bilateral Investment Treaty negotiations, and many cooperation agreements with "far-reaching impacts" will be signed.

Da Wei, head of US studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said: "Despite their differences, the two countries should talk more about positive energy. Cooperation will help to solve difficulties."

Chen Fengying, director of the World Economy Institute at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said, "It is very important to avoid misjudgment, as it will lead the US to conclude that China is a threat, which will naturally raise hostility against China."

Obama said on Wednesday that his summit with Xi will produce many outcomes.

Responding to questions after addressing members of the Business Roundtable, he said these outcomes would be "around things like energy and climate change, around improvements in how they (Chinese) deal with investors".

It is in the interests of the US for China to continue a "peaceful, orderly rise", Obama said. "I think that's good for the world."

Reuters and Yang Yixi contributed to this story.

lixiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn