BEIJING - President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that China is ready to work with the United States to advance the China-US relationship in a healthy and stable way.

President Hu made the remark when meeting with US President Barack Obama's top security advisor Thomas Donilon, the first American national security advisor to visit China in eight years.

President Hu Jintao shakes hands with US National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 24, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Hu said the two sides should further implement the consensus they had reached by strengthening dialogue, maintaining communication, enhancing mutual trust and expanding cooperation.

Hu said the two sides should respect and take care of each other's major interests and concerns and handle sensitive issues in a stable, careful and proper manner.

Donilon said US-China relations "are among the most important in the world." He said the US side is ready to work with China to implement the major consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries. He said the United States is ready to deepen cooperation with China in all bilateral areas and on issues in the region and the world.

According to Hu, China-US relations have generally maintained a momentum of stable growth in recent years due to efforts from both sides. Hu added that he and President Obama had reached an important consensus on building a cooperative China-US partnership of mutual respect and mutual benefit and on exploring the way of developing a new type of relationship between the two countries.

Donilon said the US side is firmly committed to building a cooperative partnership with China and jointly exploring how to build a new type of relationship between the two countries.

"We think our relationship is defined by practical cooperation, " he said.

Hu said Donilon has participated in many important high-level events between China and the United States in recent years. He expressed appreciation for Donilon's efforts in promoting the development of bilateral ties.

Donilon is visiting China from Monday to Wednesday. He held talks with Chinese State Council Dai Bingguo Tuesday morning and is slated to meet a number of top Chinese leaders during his stay.