The US asserts its desire to compete with China.

The US and China have conflicting worldviews. Photo: AP

While Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai used a reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington last weekend to highlight the importance of cooperation, Pottinger made the U.S. intentions clear.

Speaking at an event marking China's National Day, Pottinger said: “In the United States, competition is not a swear word. We in the Trump administration have updated our policy on China, putting the concept of competition at the forefront. It is right at the top of the President’s national security strategy.”

According to this official, the concepts of freedom and competition are at the "core" of American democracy and market economy, and asserted that failing to acknowledge competition between the two sides would lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations.

For his part, Ambassador Cui Tiankai stated that both China and the United States face a "historic choice" regarding the future of their bilateral relationship. The diplomat said: "China has made its choice. We are committed to upholding the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation with the United States."

Matt Pottinger, Senior Director for Asia at the US National Security Council. Photo: Getty

Regarding trade issues, Cui Tiankai reaffirmed China's stance that it will "open its doors even wider to the outside world," and emphasized that Beijing "will firmly safeguard" the international order to promote free trade.

Earlier, in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi asserted that the Sino-American relationship is "easy to break, but very difficult to mend a broken mirror."

Wang Yi stated that bilateral relations are at a "decisive stage," emphasizing that Washington needs to decide whether "Beijing is a partner or a rival."