BEIJING -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met Tuesday with U.S. President Barack Obama's top security advisor Thomas Donilon, the first American national security advisor to visit China in eight years.

Hu said Donilon has participated many important high-level events between China and the United States in recent years. He expressed appreciation for Donilon's efforts in promoting the development of bilateral ties.

Calling U.S.-China relations "among the most important in the world," Donilon said President Obama is firmly committed to building a cooperative partnership with China.

"We are working to build a relationship based on cooperation on many of the issues in the region and the world. We think our relationship is defined by practical cooperation," he said.

Donilon is visiting China from Monday to Wednesday. He held talks with Chinese State Council Dai Bingguo Tuesday morning and is slated to meet a number of top Chinese leaders during his stay.