BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Tuesday that China and the United States will start preparations as soon as possible for the second round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) scheduled for next summer in Beijing.

China and the United States will continue implementing the agreements reached at the first round of the dialogue last July in Washington, Hu said in remarks to reporters after talks with visiting US President Barack Obama.

The two leaders spoke positively during the talks of the importance of the strategic and economic dialogue mechanism in strengthening mutual trust and cooperation between the two nations, he said.

Both leaders believed that close high-level contacts and other dialogues and consultations at various levels are essential to the development of bilateral relations, said the Chinese president.

The two sides agreed to keep close communication through visits, phone calls, letters and meetings during multilateral events, Hu said.