United States President Barack Obama Tuesday told Chinese President Hu Jintao that more people-to-people exchanges between the US and China would lead to greater cooperation on economic and security issues.

Obama said at a meeting of senior government officials in Beijing's Great Hall of the People that the American people were interested in stronger relations with the people of China.

"The more that we can encourage people to people exchanges that are consistent with the discussions that we're having at the government level, the more that China and the United States will be able to work cooperatively on a whole range of issues -- both economic issues, security issues and global issues -- that are in the interests not just of our two nations, but the entire world," said Obama.

He told Hu that the smaller group discussions between the two leaders before the formal talks were very constructive.

"As we both affirmed, the United States and China have a great many mutual interests, and after 30 years of bilateral relations, I think it's fair to say that our two governments have continued to move forward in a way that can bring even greater cooperation in the future," Obama said.