Chinese President Hu Jintao left for home Sunday after paying a state visit to Singapore and attending the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in this Southeast Asian nation.

Hu met a number of Singaporean leaders, including President S. R. Nathan, during his state visit and exchanged views with the officials on the development of their countries' bilateral cooperation.

The Chinese president said during his meeting with Nathan on Wednesday that China attached great importance to its relations with Singapore. He said China was ready to deepen its mutually beneficial cooperation with Singapore in order to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of Asia.

Hu emphasized that human resources were a key area of bilateral cooperation, to which both sides have always paid great attention.

Strengthening exchanges between youths of both countries was conducive to the long-term and stable growth of bilateral links, he said.

Hu also said China was ready to provide Singapore with a pair of pandas for joint research in a bid to further enhance the friendly ties between the two nations.

The Chinese president made an important speech at the APEC meeting, elaborating on China's proposition on the world financial crisis, climate change, anti-protectionism, regional economic integrity and the future of APEC.

Hu also delivered a speech at the APEC CEO summit, calling for the strengthening of confidence in cooperation and reviving the world economy.

"We must recognize that the international financial crisis has laid bare some serious problems, including the lack of sustainability in the current pattern of world economic growth and the existence of major deficiencies in the international financial system," Hu said at the CEO summit.

"To ensure long-term development of the world economy, we must, while countering immediate difficulties, adopt a multi-pronged approach and effectively address the underlying structural problems in the world economy," he added.

Leaders of the 21-member APEC at the two-day meeting exchanged views on major problems, including the global economic crisis, how to promote sustainable recovery in the post-crisis world, and how to strengthen the global multilateral trading system.

APEC's 21 member economies include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

The Chinese leader flew to Singapore from Malaysia on Wednesday after a state visit.