Chinese President Hu Jintao (R)shakes hands with visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 20, 2006. -Xinhua

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice here Friday.

"It is essential for the two countries to consult closely on major international and regional issues, especially on highly complicated nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula," Hu said.

Hu said Rice arrived in Beijing shortly after State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan visited the United States as his special envoy.

"This shows that U.S. President George W. Bush and the U.S. government attach great importance to the U.S.-China relations," he said.

Rice echoed Hu, saying her visit is a "sign of close cooperation" between the two countries.

She also said "it is important that in the current difficult and complex situation, the two countries coordinate closely and share ideas on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue."

Hu said the Chinese side continues to advocate the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, opposes nuclear weapons proliferation and seeks a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.

China "firmly opposes" the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear test and adheres to UN Security Council Resolution 1718, Hu said, stressing that China will pursue a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiation.

Hu said China is willing to make joint efforts with all relevant parties to handle the issue calmly and with restraint, so as to prevent the situation from deteriorating or getting out of control, and to actively create conditions for an early resumption of the six-party talks so as to maintain the peace and security of the peninsula and in northeast Asia.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK conducted an underground nuclear test on Oct. 9.

The United Nations Security Council on Oct. 14 unanimously adopted a resolution imposing sanctions against the DPRK for its nuclear test.

The Korean nuclear issue is the most pressing issue in the world and the U.S. side is willing to solve the issue through diplomatic channels and does not want to see worsening of the situation, Rice said.

China is a responsible country and the cooperation between the United States and China is very important for global and regional peace and security, she added.

She said the U.S. side expects diplomatic efforts to bear fruit so that a genuine denuclearization can be achieved in the peninsula.

Rice's visit to China comes amid international efforts to ease the tension arising from the DPRK nuclear test on Oct. 9.

China is the third leg of Rice's four-nation tour, which has already taken her to Japan and the Republic of Korea. From China she will travel to Russia.

Her visit comes "at an important and sensitive juncture", when China is examining how to implement Resolution 1718, and is striving to achieve a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue through diplomatic channels, said Professor Zhu Feng from Beijing University.

During the meeting Hu also commented on Sino-U.S. relations, saying relations have progressed and high-level visits have become more frequent.

He called the two sides to continue their communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen their cooperation, expand common interests and respect each other's concerns, so as to advance their constructive and cooperative ties.