BEIJING, Sept. 22-- Chinese President Xi Jinping dismissed that the Chinese dream is an illusion or empty slogan and said that it is fundamentally about making life better for the Chinese people.

In a written interview with Wall Street Journal, Xi said that the Chinese dream is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese people.

Looking back at the Chinese history since 1840, Xi said that despite the social turbulence, foreign aggression and the sufferings of war, Chinese people stood on their feet, struggled tenaciously for a better future, and never gave up the longing for their cherished dream.

He called on a better understanding of the Chinese nation's suffering since modern times and the profound impact of such suffering on the Chinese minds.

"The Chinese dream is as much the dream of every Chinese as it is the dream of the whole nation," Xi said. "It is not an illusion, nor is it an empty slogan. The Chinese dream is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese People."

Recalling the talks with old friends on their dreams in Muscatine, Iowa during his last visit to the United States, Xi said he has the impression that the Americans and people in all other countries share the same dream about the future: world peace, social security and stability, and a decent life.

While different countries may not have the exact same dream or the exact same path to realize it, due to differences in history, culture and stage of development, "all roads lead to Rome" .

However different in meanings, these dreams are sources of inspiration for all peoples and create important opportunities for China and the United States, as well as other countries to engage in cooperation, Xi said.