Chinese President Hu Jintao talked with US President George W. Bush over phone Wednesday evening.

Bush said his meeting with Hu in Evian, France, was fruitful and Sino-US relations were progressing well. The two sides had consulted and cooperated closely on important international issues and the United States was willing to maintain cooperation with China.

Hu Jintao said the bilateral relations between China and the United States had continued to improve and develop with the joint efforts. New progress had been made in exchanges, coordination and cooperation on many international issues and in important areas. China was willing, together with the United States, to make efforts to maintain the momentum of the development of the bilateral relations.

Bush also expressed his congratulations on China's success in controlling the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The two leaders also exchanged views on the peaceful solutions to the nuclear issue in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea through dialogues.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2003)