Chinese President Hu Jintao met Friday with President of the Socialist International (SI) George Papandreou and his delegation to a seminar on sustainable development.

Hu said the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the SI had promoted relations between China and the nations of the SI members.

He said the SI was an important force in the international political arena, and shared similar views with the CPC on major issues like peace and development, as well as south-north cooperation.

Hu said the CPC would enhance dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation with the SI to deal with the global challenges.

Papandreou said the SI would improve cooperation with the CPC to safeguard world peace and promote sustainable development.

The SI brings together 170 political parties and organizations worldwide. The seminar on sustainable growth, co-sponsored by the CPC and the SI, was held in Beijing on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2009)