Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that his ongoing state visit to the United States is for peace and cooperation.

"I come to the United States this time to promote peace and advance cooperation," Xi said in a speech at a welcome ceremony held by U.S. President Barack Obama on the South Lawn of the White House.

"We must uphold the right direction of building a new model of major-country relations, make sure our relationship is defined by peace, respect and cooperation, and see through it that it keeps moving forward on the sound track of steady growth," he said.