Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday in Beijing that the key point at this moment in the China-US relations is to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

The two sides should also properly handle each other's concerns so as to maintain constructive relations of cooperation and push it forward in a continuous way, Hu said in a meeting with Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state of the United States.

Hu praised Kissinger for his long-term efforts in promoting the China-US friendship and for his historical contribution to the normalization of China-US relations.

History and reality have proven that a healthy and stable China-US relationship caters to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and benefits both regional and world peace, stability and development, Hu added.

Kissinger said the US-China relationship, which is currently at the most constructive period in 30 years, has broad prospects and shows increasing importance.

The US government stands firmly by the one-China policy, he noted, adding that the advancement of the increasingly close US-China cooperative relations is beneficial to the two peoples.

Hu and Kissinger also exchanged their views on international and regional affairs and other issues of common concern.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was present on the occasion.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2003)