Chinese President Hu Jintao put forward a five-point proposal here on Thursday for further development of Sino-U.S. relations.

Hu made the proposal during his speech at a welcome luncheon Thursday hosted by friendly organizations in the United States.

"In the face of the complex and fluid international situation and various risks and challenges, the people of our two countries should step up cooperation and work with people across the world to share opportunities, meet challenges and build a better future for mankind," Hu said.

In the first decade of this century, China and the United States worked together and made steady progress in building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship for the 21st century. China-U.S. relations have reached unprecedented breadth and depth, said the Chinese president.

"Given the ever changing circumstances in the world and in our respective countries, what should we do to take a sound and steady China-U.S. relationship into the new decade?"

"To answer this question, one must, first and foremost, identify the basis for the development of China-U.S. relations. It is fair to say our two countries have never enjoyed such broad common interests and shouldered such important common responsibilities as we do today."

-- Both China and the United States are committed to upholding world peace and stability and reforming the international system.

-- Both China and the United States are committed to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

-- Both China and the United States are committed to stronger bilateral cooperation in all fields to the benefit of the two peoples.

"Looking ahead, we are fully confident about the prospects of China-U.S. relations. Here I would like to propose that we take the following steps to advance the sound and steady growth of our relations," said Hu.

First, bear in mind the overall interests, take a long-term perspective and make active efforts to advance China-U.S. cooperative partnership. The China-U.S. relationship is not one in which one side's gain means the other side's loss.

Rather, it should be a relationship in which the two sides respect each other and endeavor to deepen strategic mutual trust. It should be a relationship that highlights common interests and stronger cooperation in all fields. The two sides should view and handle the bilateral relations from a global perspective and in keeping with the trend of the times.

"We should keep our relations on the path of equality, mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and common development. And to do that, we should increase high-level exchanges, deepen and expand communication at all levels, better appreciate each other's strategic intentions and development paths, and further increase mutual trust, dispel misgivings and build consensus," said Hu.