China-U.S. ties now stand at a new crossroads, and the future of bilateral relations depends on the choices we make today, Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, said on Monday.

Cui made the remarks at a symposium on the 40 years of U.S.-China ties held by the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, also known as the Bush China Foundation.

Over the past 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, bilateral relations have achieved historic development, and the common interests and needs for cooperation between the two countries in promoting world peace and prosperity have reached an unprecedented level, Cui said.

However, today's Sino-U.S. relations are shrouded in rare dark clouds since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Dark clouds may make people pessimistic and discouraged, and real politicians can see the bright lines and the bright future behind the clouds, Cui said.

Noting recent Sino-U.S. trade negotiations have made substantial progress, Cui said he hopes that China and the U.S. will continue to negotiate on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and achieve a mutually beneficial and win-win result.

He added that losing Sino-U.S. cooperation may result in nothing.

He said he hopes bilateral ties can achieve healthy and stable development so as to benefit the people in the two countries and around the globe.

The Bush China Foundation, the first of its kind which is named after a former U.S. president, has become an important bridge of friendship and cooperation between China and the U.S.