Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush Thursday had a telephone conversation where they discussed their views on bilateral relations and the upcoming second round of strategic economic dialogue between the two countries.

The two leaders agreed that China-U.S. relations have maintained favorable development and that the two sides should work to increase dialogue and cooperation in order to promote constructive progress in relations between the two countries.

President Hu appreciated the U.S. government's active attitude toward the development of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation.

He stressed that the successful holding of the first round of China-U.S. strategic economic dialogue in Beijing last September shows that under the backdrop of rapid development of economic globalization, China and the U.S. can enhance mutual understanding and trust through frank and sincere dialogue, properly settle problems arising from bilateral economic and trade cooperation, promote steady development of bilateral economic and trade relations, and play active roles in global economic development and prosperity.

For his part, Bush said that U.S.-China strategic economic dialogue is of great significance, which indicates that the two countries are willing to settle the relevant problems through high-level dialogue.

The U.S. side is grateful that the Chinese government has attached great importance to this round of U.S.-China strategic economic dialogue and hopes that great achievements will be made in this round of dialogue, Bush said.

The two presidents also exchanged views on climate changes and the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2007)