Chinese President Hu Jintao met his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in New York on Tuesday to exchange views on bilateral ties and other important issues of common concern.

The Chinese president said at the start of their meeting that China-U.S. relations are now showing a sound momentum of development, and the two countries are developing a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship.

A sound China-U.S. relationship is not only in the interests of the two countries, but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region and the world at large, Hu said.

Hu expressed the willingness to work with the U.S. side to deepen cooperation in various fields. He hoped both sides would properly handle problems in bilateral ties so as to push forward the relations.

Obama said he is committed to building a genuine, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between the two countries. He expressed the willingness to further advance the cooperative relations.

The two leaders were meeting on the sidelines of the UN climate change summit and other UN meetings. This has been their second meeting this year since April 1 when they met in London during a Group of 20 summit on the global financial crisis.

During their London meeting, Hu and Obama agreed to work together to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century.

Since Obama took office in January 2009, China-U.S. relations have achieved a smooth transition and maintained a positive momentum of growth.

The first China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held in Washington in late July, when the two countries pledged to intensify bilateral ties and expand cooperation on major international issues and shared global challenges.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2009)