Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush met Wednesday in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako to discuss bilateral ties and other issues of mutual concern.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit.

The Toyako summit, which began on Monday at the Windsor Hotel and will end on Wednesday, has focused on the world economy, climate change, energy security and other pressing issues that need to be tackled.

The G8 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

President Hu was invited to the outreach session of the G8 summit and has met other world leaders during the summit.

At present, Sino-U.S. relations are at a crucial stage, providing a link between the past and the future. Furthering the Sino-U.S. relationship conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and has a profound impact on peace, stability and the development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2008)