Beijing urged Washington on Tuesday to stop distorting China's strategic intention and discard its "outdated Cold War mentality" after the US administration released its national security strategy calling China "competition" that threatens United States security.

Analysts said that the two countries should better manage their ties to prevent their deterioration, especially in economic and trade areas, which would harm both sides.

China would like the US to treat the bilateral ties in an objective and reasonable manner, abide by related promises and act in a way that maintains a healthy development of the relations, which is the correct choice to meet the interests of both sides and the whole world, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

"As two big countries, it's natural that China and the US have some disagreements," she said in a news conference. Mentioning that China has contributed more than 30 percent to global economic growth in recent years, she said China will continue to boost practical cooperation with all countries.

Hua said China will never pursue its own development at the expense of other countries' interests, but also will protect China's interests, she said.

Her comments came a day after US President Donald Trump declared China a "strategic competitor" to the US in a speech laying out the official US national security strategy.

The document referred to China and Russia as "competition" that threatens to harm US security.

The Chinese embassy in Washington said in a statement on Monday night that the US claims it "seeks to develop a partnership with China" on one hand, but on the other labels China as a rival.

Stephen Hadley, a former national security adviser to president George W. Bush, said the relationship with China is going to be characterized by collaboration and competition at the same time.

"I think both sides have an incentive to manage this cooperative and competitive relationship in such a way that it does not become confrontation or a conflict."

Zhao Huanxin in Washington and Mo Jingxi in Beijing contributed to this story.