WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- China's top envoy to the U.S. on Thursday refuted U.S. criticism of China's move over contested waters, calling for "constructive" attitude towards highly sensitive issues in Sino-U.S. relations.

"I think it's extremely important for people who are still working in the government to follow a constructive spirit, especially on some of the highly sensitive issues," Cui Tiankai, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., said at an event at the Center for American Progress.

"Honestly, I have to point out here statements by government officials and spokespersons sometimes using coercive language are not that constructive," Cui said at the Washington-based think tank.

The Ambassador also dismissed as "not constructive" statements that "may start with a claim that no position is taken on certain issues then continue with lengthy accusations which are clearly biased and groundless."

In addition, Cui voiced his disapproval to "unilateral interpretations of some international legal instruments and attempt to impose these interpretations on others."

"I hope in the future we will not see such statements very often," he said.

Some U.S. officials have voiced criticism against China's establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone in East China Sea late last year.

At Thursday's event, Cui said presidents of China and the U.S. have made the important decision of building "a new model of major power relationship" and he has confidence in achieving the goal.

He was referring to a consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama during their meeting at the Annenberg Retreat in U.S. State of California last June.

"We should really aim at win-win cooperation between our two countries, whether in the Asia-Pacific or elsewhere, and on the basis of mutual respect," the Ambassador said.