CANNES, France - Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Wednesday in Cannes, France.

The two exchanged views on the global economy, the reform of the international monetary system and the role of the IMF.

Hu and Lagarde met on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of Twenty (G20), slated for Thursday and Friday in Cannes.

The G20 summit convenes at a time of heightened tensions and significant downside risks for the global economy.

The G20 leaders are expected to address the major problems affecting the world economic recovery and the stability of the global financial market.

They would discuss, among others, the eurozone debt crisis, the reforming of the international monetary system, the strengthening of financial regulation, and trade and development.

The IMF, an organization of 187 countries, works to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.