BEIJING, July 2  -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for more communication between China and the United States, and urged the two sides to inject "positive energy" into their bilateral ties.

Xi made the remarks in a meeting with U.S. former Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson at the Great Hall of the People.

The two sides should give full play to mechanisms such as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) to strengthen communication and discuss cooperation, Xi said.

The sixth China-U.S. SED will be held in Beijing on July 9 and 10.

Xi said China always views and handles the relationship with the United States from a strategic and longstanding point of view, which will "not change for a short period or over a single incident."

He said the two countries share more common interests and links than differences and disputes. They should follow the important consensus of building a new-model relationship, enhance mutual trust, expand common interests and strengthen cooperation, according to the president.

The two countries should avoid suspicion and confrontation, Xi added.

He said that China needs a peaceful, stable and cooperative external environment to promote reform, realize national unification and provide sound livelihood for its 1.3 billion people. China will abide by a peaceful development path and shoulder international responsibility and obligation according to its own capability, Xi vowed.

The Chinese leader expressed hope that the United States can take an objective view of China's national situation, and its domestic and foreign policies.

The president also voiced appreciation for the efforts of Paulson and his Paulson Institute in promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

Paulson said he and the institute are devoted to sound development of U.S.-China ties. He assured Xi that the U.S. business community supports an early signing of a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), and hopes bilateral trade cooperation can generate more substantial results.

China and the United States have conducted 12 rounds of negotiation on the BIT since 2008. According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, the BIT will be on his agenda in the upcoming SED.

Paulson also vowed to continue to contribute to the friendship and cooperation between the United States and China.