Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai addresses a reception celebrating the 91st anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Washington July 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Monday said cooperation is the only right path for Washington and Beijing, as the shared interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences.

"What the interests of our two peoples have put on us is the historical responsibilities to get the China-U.S. relationship right, not the liberty for anyone to make it fail," Cui made the remarks at a reception celebrating the 91st anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Cui said it is natural for China and the United States to compete in some areas, but the key is that "our competition should be healthy and positive, aiming to improve ourselves, not to replace the other side."

Cui noted that this year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, and one year before China and the United States celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. At this important juncture, it is important to understand China's strategic goal is to develop itself rather than to challenge anyone else, he said.

"China has no intention to challenge the international standing and interests of any other country or the existing international order and system," he said.

Cui highlighted the military ties the two countries have been building recently, mentioning that General Han Weiguo, commander of the PLA Ground Force, visited the United States, and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis visited China earlier this year.

Cui said China's defense minister and commander of the PLA navy will also visit the United States later this year, with hopes to make the military-to-military relationship a stabilizer in bilateral relations.

China would like to work with the United States to focus on cooperation, manage differences and successfully stage the second sessions of the four high-level dialogue mechanisms, so that China-U.S. relations will move forward along the right track, Cui said.