WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said here Thursday that the U.S. and China share many strategic interests and should enhance their cooperation.

    Giving a speech on a welcoming ceremony held on the White House South Lawn to welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is in the U.S. for a state visit, Bush said the United States and China are two nations connected through a global economy that has created opportunity for both two peoples.

    "The United States welcomes the emergence of a China that is peaceful and prosperous... Our two nations share many strategic interests," he said.

    He said he is to discuss how to advance the interests and how China and the United States can cooperate with other nations to address common challenges in the world.

    After recalling the long history of the Sino-U.S. relations, the U.S. president said their friendship has grown from strength to strength, and yielded rich fruit thanks to the concerted efforts made by the two governments and two peoples.

    "Both China and the United States are countries of significant influence in the world....In particular, mutually beneficial and win-win China-U.S. economic cooperation and trade benefit our two peoples and promote the economic growth in the Asia Pacific region and the world at large," he said.

    After the ceremony, the two leaders held talks at the White House on issues ranging from Sino-U.S. relations to major international and regional issues of common concern. Enditem