WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- China and the United States should be partners, not rivals, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

China and the United States are both great countries, and the two peoples are both great peoples, Xi said in a written speech upon his arrival for a U.S. state visit.

Noting that the two peoples have maintained friendly exchanges for a long time and their interests are deeply intertwined, he said that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, complement each other and benefit the world.