Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush spoke on the phone on Monday and discussed cementing economic dialogue and promoting bilateral trade ties.

Bush first extended his condolences over China's losses as a result of Typhoon Saomai that hit several coastal provinces in southeast China.

Bush also said that Washington hoped that the US-China economic dialogue and cooperation would be enhanced, which would surely inject fresh impetus to the already robust economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Hu said that with the strengthening of the economic ties between China and the US, enhanced bilateral economic dialogue would be conducive to the economic and trade cooperation and the development of the constructive cooperative relationship between the two countries.

The dialogue would also bring about positive impact on the global economic growth, as well as the world's stability and security, Hu said.

China would like to maintain contact with the US in this respect, Hu added.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2006)