Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that the vitality of developing China-U.S. relations lies in localities of the two countries, during a meeting with Gavin Newsom, governor of the U.S. state of California, in Beijing.

"The hope and foundation of the China-U.S. relationship lie in the people, its future in the youths, and its vitality in the localities," Xi told Newsom at the Great Hall of the People.

Noting that China and the U.S. are the two largest economies in the world, Xi said the two countries account for more than a third of the global economy and nearly a quarter of the world's population, and bilateral trade accounts for about a fifth of the global total.

"The interests of the two sides are closely intertwined," he said.

Xi said that the achievements of China-U.S. relations have not come easily and should be cherished all the more.

China's policy toward the U.S. is consistent, which follows the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, Xi said, adding that China will continue to work in this direction and hopes that the U.S. will work with it in the same direction.

During the meeting, the Chinese president recalled his visit to California and introduced China's green transformation efforts and local development.

Xi expressed hope that Newsom's visit can help enhance mutual understanding between the two countries and play a positive role in expanding cooperation between China and California and promoting the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations.

Noting the potential for bilateral cooperation in areas such as green development and addressing climate change, he said China and the U.S. should and can make such areas another highlight in the development of bilateral relations.

For his part, Newsom hailed the achievements China has made in development over the past few decades, especially in the field of new energy in recent years.

There is no other state-to-state relationship in the world more important than U.S.-China relationship, where the future of the U.S. and the happiness of the people are at stake, according to the governor.

Local exchanges are an important part of U.S.-China relations, said Newsom, who also noted that the Chinese have historically made important contributions to the construction of California, and California has always been an important gateway for the U.S. to cooperate with China.

He also expressed agreement with the principles the Chinese president has advocated in developing U.S.-China relations, and voiced readiness to promote contacts and exchanges between California and China in the same spirit, and to intensify cooperation in areas such as climate change and new energy.

California is ready to be a long-term, stable and robust partner of China, he said.