BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Sunday that the China-US relations are of global significance and beyond the scope of common bilateral ties.

    In his talks with visiting US president George W. Bush, Hu said that China and the United States have extensive common interests and share common major responsibility in such major issues as pushing the reform of the United Nations, solving regional hot issues, preventing and fighting against terrorism, preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, fighting against natural disasters and combating epidemic disease.

    Giving a positive appraisal of the China-US relations, Hu said that the two countries are naturally required to keep a long-term good relationship, maintain mutually beneficial cooperation and seek common development in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest ofthe world in order to fully carry forward the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries.

    It is also the practical need for the creation of a peaceful, stable and prosperous world, Hu added.

    Hu said that China will, together with the United States, keep a firm grip on the common interests, properly handle each other's concerns, expand comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperationin all sectors so as to give constant impetus to the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries, carry forwardhuman being's lofty cause of peaceful development and bring benefit to the peoples of the two countries and the rest of the world.

    Noting that China is "an important country", Bush said that his current visit offers an opportunity to further develop the relations between the two great countries.

    He echoed the suggestions proposed by Hu about the development of bilateral ties, stressing that the two countries should continue to increase exchanges and dialogues.

    Bush also commended on China's firm stance on anti-terrorism, the dialogue about energy affairs between the two countries and the role that China has played in preventing and fighting against bird flu. Enditem