U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Monday that the United States should seek long-term relations with China.

"Our outlook toward China, the way we manage the relationship, has to be a long-term one," Paulson said at a housing forum sponsored by the Office of Thrift Supervision.

Paulson is leading a high-level administration team that includes six other cabinet members and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to China for talks he said will discuss "the importance of a sustainable growth in China, which improves the balance of trade."

"I'm looking forward to the trip. I think it will be a good discussion that lays the groundwork for important progress down the line," he said.

But he warned that the talks may not produce immediate results.

"There is a tendency in Washington to want to get immediate answers, but a relationship this important will have consequences for our economy and for our nation over many generations," he said.

"The work we do this week and in future meetings should all be with an eye toward building a cooperative relationship for many years," he added.