Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Tuesday that he and US President Barack Obama had agreed to improve Sino-US relations and reached consensus on major international and regional issues of common concern.

Chinese President Hu Jintao speaks during a press conference held with visiting U.S. President Barack Obama following their official talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009.[Liu Jiansheng/Xinhua]

After nearly two hours of talks, Hu told the press at Beijing's Great Hall of the People that his talks with Obama was "candid, constructive and fruitful."

Standing beside Obama, Hu said China and the United States shared broad common interests and have great potential for future development on a series of major issues concerning peace and development of the mankind.

More dialogue

Hu said they agreed to improve dialogue, communication and cooperation from a strategic and far-sighted perspective and to make joint efforts in building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive Sino-US relationship so as to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Chinese President Hu Jintao holds a press conference with visiting US President Barack Obama following their official talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]

Both China and the United States believed that close high-level contacts and dialogues and consultations at various levels were of great importance to the two countries' relationship, he said.

The two presidents agreed to keep close communication through visits, phone calls, letters and meetings at multilateral occasions, Hu said.

The two leaders also spoke highly of the role of the strategic and economic dialogue mechanism in boosting mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.

China and the United States would continue implementing the agreements reached at the first round of the dialogue last July in Washington and will start preparations as soon as possible for the second round of the Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) next summer in Beijing, Hu said.