Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the opening ceremony on June 6 in Beijing. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Monday called for deepening communication and cooperation in Asia-Pacific affairs between China and the United States.

The Pacific Ocean should not become an arena for rivalry, but a platform for inclusive cooperation, Xi said at the joint opening ceremony of the eighth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) and the seventh China-US High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) in Beijing.

China and the United States have extensive common interests in the region and should maintain frequent dialogues, cooperate more, tackle challenges, and jointly maintain prosperity and stability in the region, rather than "cultivate exclusive circles of friends," Xi said.

He reaffirmed that China pursues neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and has always been committed to bolstering peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region.

The S&ED is co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi, with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Monday and Tuesday, while Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong co-chairs the CPE with Kerry.