Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with visiting US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao met with visiting US Defense Secretary Robert Gates Tuesday afternoon in Beijing, urging the two militaries to deepen strategic trust.

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"The visit signalled new progress in exchanges between the two militaries, and it is helpful to strengthen understanding and mutual trust, and promote the development of China-US relations, " said Hu.

Hu said Gates' visit showed the high importance the two countries attached to the development of military-to-military relations.

Gates is in Beijing during a four-day visit to China. Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and Gates on Monday reached consensus on joint efforts to expand common interests, deepen dialogue and exchanges, and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations.

Gates' visit was one of the scheduled high-level contacts that were postponed after the Pentagon decided to sell almost 6.4 billion US dollars worth of arms to Taiwan in January 2010.

Hu said the healthy and stable military relationship was of great significance to a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship for the 21st Century.

Stressing the principles of respect, mutual trust, equality and reciprocity, Hu urged the defense departments of the two countries to expand dialogue, foster and increase strategic trust, respect and address each other's major concerns and make joint efforts for healthy and stable military ties.

Hu, who is to pay a state visit to Washington from January 18 to 21, said China and the United States shared extensive common interests and enjoyed broad prospects for cooperation.

He said a sound China-U.S. relationship was in the fundamental interests of both peoples and conducive to world peace and development.

China was willing to work with the US side to push forward bilateral ties on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit, said Hu.

Gates said US President Barack Obama was looking forward to Hu's visit.

Gates will visit the command base of the Second Artillery Force of the PLA on Wednesday. This is his second China trip since he took office in December 2006.