BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton here on Saturday, stressing that it is of ever great importance to further deepen and develop Sino-U.S. relations.

    Hu appreciated Clinton for her inaugural visit to China and other parts of Asia since taking office, saying this reflects the importance the new U.S. administration puts on developing relations with China and other Asian countries.

    Clinton said she had "very good meetings" with Chinese officials during her visit, which she called the beginning of "a new era" of Sino-U.S. relations characterized by positive cooperation.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) in Beijing, China, Feb. 21, 2009

She also conveyed President Obama's personal greetings to President Hu, saying Obama enjoyed earlier conversations with Hu and looked forward to meeting with Hu at a G20 summit in London in early April.

    Clinton said the U.S. and China had agreed in principle to start a strategic and economic dialogue between the two sides. She said President Obama and President Hu are expected to formally announce the plan in London.

    Clinton arrived in Beijing Friday evening. Beijing is the last stop of the Asian tour that took her to Japan, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea.