China will strengthen exchange and dialogue with Germany in joint efforts to meet global challenges, President Hu remarked Friday.

Hu made the remarks at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the meeting between the Group of Eight major industrialized nations and five major developing countries in Heiligendamm, Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm.

China and Germany maintain close contact and coordination in dealing with important international affairs and marked progress has been made in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in such fields as culture, education, science and technology, environmental protection and justice, he said.

As there is an urgent need for the international community to strengthen coordination and cooperation in responding to many challenges facing it, China and Germany now share more common interests and it has become all the more important for the two countries to develop bilateral ties, he said.

Hu said China stands ready to enhance exchanges and dialogue with Germany in efforts to meeting global challenges, safeguard world peace and stability and promote common development.

Merkel said the two countries now enjoy a close relationship, marked by frequent exchanges and contact between their leaders and different government departments.

She hoped the two sides would work together to expand their cooperation in various fields.

Merkel thanked the Chinese president for attending the dialogue meeting and said China's policies and related measures on environmental protection and climate change expounded by Hu are of great significance.

The German chancellor also hoped Germany and China would strengthen exchanges and cooperation in environmental protection and in efforts to tackle climate change.

The two leaders also exchanged views on Iran's nuclear issue and the issue of Sudan's Darfur.