China and the United States, two major countries with different national conditions, should respect each other, treat each other equally and seek common ground while reserving differences, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Friday.

Zhao made the remarks at a daily news conference after the White House issued a report on the US's strategic approach to China, which said the US's policy of engagement failed to change China.

Such belief is "totally groundless", Zhao said. Emphasizing cooperation is the only right choice for the two countries, he said neither China nor the US will be able to change or replace the other.

Noting the US said in the report it does not seek to contain China's development, Zhao said the US should match those words with its actions and respect China's core interests and major concerns.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, have explored a development path that suits China's national conditions, Zhao said.

They have achieved great accomplishments that attract global attention and contributed to world peace, stability and development, Zhao said.

China welcomes dialogue and cooperation, he said, but added the US will fail at any attempt to contain or crack down on it.

The US report deliberately distorts China's political system and strategic intention, hypes a "China threat" and advocates an all-around tough line against China, Zhao said, urging the US to work with China to bring bilateral ties back on track.