BEIJING, Nov. 12 -- The governments of China and the United States should properly handle their differences and act as a stabilizer of bilateral relations, said Chinese President Xi Jinping when meeting with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama Tuesday night.

Differences between the two countries are unavoidable but they are not the mainstream of the bilateral relationship, Xi said.

China and the U.S. have different national conditions, different history and different culture as well as different paths of development, said Xi.

He said the two sides should understand and respect each other and live in harmony while keeping their diversities.

To understand China today and predict China in the future, one has to know China's past and culture, said Xi, adding that the "gene of traditional Chinese culture" is deeply entrenched in the mentality of modern Chinese and the Chinese government's governance strategy.

Chinese people cherish national independence, unity and dignity. The Chinese government must comply with the people's will, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, maintain ethnic unity and social stability and unswervingly pursue the path of peaceful development.

Obama is in Beijing for a state visit and the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, which ended on Tuesday.