BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao will meet for the first time with U.S. President Barack Obama during a G20 summit in London in April, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here Saturday.

    The meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barack Obama will be of great significance, Yang said, adding that both countries are to make earnest preparation for the meeting.

    Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton invited Yang to visit the United States in March Saturday. At a press briefing after the talks, Yang said he expects to visit the United States, with his primary purpose of preparing for the Hu-Obama meeting in London.

    Yang said frequent high-level contacts between China and the United States play an indispensable role in advancing bilateral relations.