Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Beijing on Friday with former US President George Herbert Walker Bush.

Hailing the progress of China-US relations in recent years, Hu said that to develop healthy, stable bilateral ties was in the common interest of both sides and had great significance for peace and development of the Asian-Pacific region and the world at large.

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with former US President George Bush in Beijing March 7.

China was willing to properly handle divergence and major concerns through dialogue and beef up bilateral exchanges and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, Hu said.

He said that he appreciated Bush's efforts to boost China-US friendship. He also briefed the former US leader about China's stance on the Taiwan issue and its preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Calling US-China relations one of the world's most important bilateral ties, Bush said that he was happy with the development of the progress of bilateral relations and expressed confidence that there would be even closer ties with China.

As the honorary president of the US delegation for the Olympic Games, Bush said he expected to be back in China in August to watch the Games.

Calling the Olympics a world sports festival, Bush said that he opposed politicizing the event and expected a complete success for the Games.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2008)