Chinese president Hu Jintao stressed Monday China and the United States need to stick to the right direction of bilateral relations.

"No matter how the international situation may evolve and what difficulties and interferences we may encounter, we should always follow a strategic and long-term perspective and stick to and safeguard the goal of working together to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship for the 21st century," Hu said.

"We should foster strategic mutual trust, strengthen strategic cooperation, appropriately handle differences and step up communication, coordination and cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues," Hu said in a speech delivered Monday to the opening session of the second round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue held in Beijing.

The dialogue was a mechanism designed to enhance mutual understanding and trust between China and the United States. The first round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held in Washington in July last year.