BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's China tour scheduled for Friday is an important high-level visit since the Obama administration took office. At this new historic juncture, the two countries should stick to the right direction of their constructive cooperation and push their bilateral ties further forward.

　　The course of Sino-U.S. relationship is clearly defined as one between stakeholders and constructive partners. Their bilateral ties are characterized by mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, rather than a zero game.

　　Sino-U.S. relations have gained substantial progress, with strengthened basis for cooperation and closer interest bond, thus offering a higher starting point for future development of bilateral ties.

　　"People in the same boat should help each other," Clinton cited an ancient Chinese saying in her speech at the Asian Society before her Asian tour. She said that the ancient Chinese wisdom must continue to guide both countries today.

　　The sound development of Sino-U.S. relations requires both sides to handle their relations from a strategic perspective and a long-term vision, so that the two countries will remain firm in adhering to their constructive cooperation.

　　The sound development of relations between China and the United States, both countries in the Asia-Pacific region, are in the fundamental interest of the two countries and peoples, conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

　　Both China and the United States are major nations in the world with wide-ranging common interests and broad basis for cooperation. Their bilateral relations, currently the most dynamic, and influential, go far beyond bilateral dimension with its great significance and impact.

　　At present, the world is undergoing fundamental changes. The spreading global financial crisis asks the two countries to adopt a broader global vision and a mindset that keeps abreast with the advance of the times in handling their bilateral relations.

　　Since the Obama administration took office, the two governments have kept close contacts on issues of common concern. President Barack Obama has indicated his commitment to developing more positive and constructive relations with China, and his wishes for closer cooperation with China on major global and regional issues.

　　China and the United States should adhere to the principle of mutual respect and equality to properly resolve their differences and problems and respect and take into account each other's core interests.

　　Different social systems, historical, cultural background and different stages of development of China and the United States have understandably given rise to differences on certain issues. Both countries should enhance dialogue, broaden consensus and push cooperation forward.

　　The two sides should honor the three joint communiqués to maintain and further develop the overall favorable situation of their relations.

　　The U.S. side has realized that a China in pursuit of peaceful, open and cooperative development offers an opportunity and contributes to U.S. prosperity and its cooperation with other countries.

　　In today's world of closer interdependence and interaction, China has firmly adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, adhered to the path of peaceful development, and unswervingly followed a win-win strategy of opening up.

　　"Even with our differences, the United States will remain committed to pursuing a positive relationship with China, one that we believe is essential to America's future peace, progress and prosperity," Clinton had this to say in her speech at the Asian Society.

　　Both China and the United States share the common responsibility for peace and development of the mankind. As long as the two countries adhere to the right course of their relations by enhancing dialogue and mutual trust, broadening cooperation and respecting each other's core interest, together they will be able to tackle global challenges of all sorts.