BEIJING - CHINESE President Hu Jintao on Monday told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that China remained committed to improving ties with the United States, state media reported.

During his meeting with Rice in Beijing, Mr Hu said that relations between China and the United States were at a 'crucial stage", the official Xinhua news agency said.

'Whatever changes take place in the United States and the international situation, our guideline of developing constructive, cooperative relations with the United States remains unchanged,' Mr Hu told Dr Rice, according to Xinhua.

Mr Hu pledged to work with the United States to 'promote trust and cooperation and push forward the healthy development of Sino-US relations,' Xinhua said.

Dr Rice held talks with Premier Wen Jiabao as well as Mr Hu on Monday, the second and final day of a trip to China.

Dr Rice told reporters she had discussed a range of sensitive issues with the Chinese leaders, including human rights, Tibet and how to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe. -- AFP