Donilon meets Chinese president

President Hu Jintao, during his meeting with U.S. National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon, said China is ready to work to advance bilateral relations. During his China visit, the first in eight years by a U.S. national security adviser, Donilon planned to discuss military and security issues besides China's position on the Syrian conflict, the Voice of America reported. China's official Xinhua news reported Hu told Donilon the two sides should further implement the consensus they had reached by strengthening dialogue, maintaining communication, enhancing mutual trust and expanding cooperation. China and Russia, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, vetoed the Council's resolution for sanctions on Syria last week, which was criticized by the United States and other Western countries. Donilon's visit comes as China's growing presence in the South China Sea to assert its sovereignty raises concerns among its neighbors, who also have overlapping claims on islands in the resource-rich. China wants to resolve the issue through bilateral discussions, while the United States prefers a multilateral approach. Xinhua quoted Hu as saying China and the United States should respect and take care of each others' major interests and concerns and handle sensitive issues in a stable, careful and proper manner. Donilon said U.S.-China relations "are among the most important in the world," and that the U.S. side is ready to work with China to implement the major consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, Xinhua reported. Donilon was scheduled to visit Japan next.