Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday met with Ted Stevens, acting president of the United States Senate in Beijing and pledged to further Sino-U.S. ties.

Hu hailed the current Sino-U.S. relations, saying the two countries' leaders kept frequent visits, reached important consensus on bilateral ties and other key issues.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (2n R) shakes hands with Washington State Senator Patty Murray as Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter (L) and Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (2nd R) watch during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing August 12, 2006. [Reuters]

The two sides also strengthened strategic trust and promoted consultation, coordination and cooperation in various fields and on key international and regional issues.

As stakeholders and constructive cooperators, China and the United States should enhance exchange and understanding, expand cooperation and common strategic interest, properly handle sensitive issues and each's concerns in bilateral ties, he said.

All of these will facilitate the long-term and steady development of the constructive cooperative Sino-U.S. relations and should be based on the principles of mutual-respect, seeking common ground while reserving difference, mutual-beneficial and win-win, Hu noted.

On the exchange between Chinese and U.S. legislative bodies, Hu said that it served as a vigorous driving force for bilateral relations.

He asked the National People's Congress, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to add up topics of dialogue under the existing exchange mechanism in a bid to contribute more to the Sino-U.S. relations.

Stevens spoke highly of consensus reached between Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush, which were expected to promote the Sino-U.S. relations in the 21st century.

He said the exchange between the U.S. and Chinese legislative bodies will serve to strengthen understanding and mutual trust and U.S.-China relations will witness greater progress.

Stevens is heading a senate delegation to China for the third annual meeting with the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body.

He is also chair of the Senate's U.S.-China Interparliamentary Group.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, on Friday held talks with the delegation which arrived in China on Monday.

The third formal working session was held in south China's scenic city of Guilin on Wednesday.

The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including Sino-U.S. relations, the Taiwan question, parliamentary exchanges, China's peaceful development, trade, energy, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and other regional and international issues of common concern, and reached consensus on many issues.

The NPC and the U.S. Senate set up a regular meeting mechanism in 2004 and have already held meetings in Beijing and Washington D.C.