NEW YORK – The Chinese ambassador to the US has warned Washington against“any strategy for confrontation” with Beijing, which he said is based on a“paranoid” fear of China’s rising power.

Ambassador Cui Tiankai made the remarks at an embassy reception for theLunar New Year, adding that it is “wishful thinking” to believe that Chinawould change the nature of its politics.

“It’s certainly paranoid to fear that a China that follows its own path ofdevelopment would be confrontational to the United States. And it’sdangerous to advocate any strategy for confrontation,” China’s officialXinhua news agency quoted Cui as saying on Tuesday.

The event was attended by more than 700 people, including US Secretary ofCommerce Wilbur Ross, White House National Security Council senior directorfor Asian affairs Matthew Pottinger, and Acting Assistant Secretary ofState Susan Thornton.

Before taking office, US President Donald Trump frequently bashed Chinaparticularly over its trade practices; but since assuming office in January2017, he has taken a softer line with China and tried to cultivate arelationship with the Chinese leadership. Trump made a largely successfuland controversy-free visit to the Asian country late last year.

The US-Sino relations, however, still suffer from persisting areas ofdisagreement. Trump has time and again threatened to become tough on whathe sees as “unfair” Chinese trade practices, and has also called on Chinato rein in North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.

Furthermore, the US navy routinely sails what it calls freedom ofnavigation missions to challenge Chinese claims in the disputed South ChinaSea. Another thorny issue in bilateral relations is the self-ruled Taiwan,which is claimed fully by Beijing but armed mostly by Washington.

Also on Tuesday, Dan Coats, the director of US national intelligence,warned that China was using its cyber attack capabilities to advance itsnational security and economic priorities.

Earlier this week, the US Defense Department put the bilateral ties on abumpier road when it asked Congress to approve $686 billion for militaryspending in 2019, citing “threats” from Russia, China, and North Korea.

Cui, however, said bilateral relations “should be characterized by overallcooperation” and governed by “friendly competition, if competition isnecessary, and no confrontation.”

“We will continue to have differences between us, but our growing commoninterests are far more important. We may continue to have disagreementsbetween us, but the need for cooperation will far outweigh any differencesbetween us. We’ll continue to have problems, but dialogues will lead us tosolutions” Cui further said.