Beijing - Trying to smooth over recently rocky relations before a visit to Washington, Chinese President Hu Jintao told American officials on Wednesday that he wants to see healthy and stable ties between the two countries.

The meeting between Hu and a White House economic policy official and deputy national security adviser was unusual because the Chinese president rarely meets with visitors ranked lower in diplomatic protocol.

Addressing the security and economic spats that have dragged down relations was at the heart of summers' and Donilon's three days of meetings in Beijing.

The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post reported Wednesday, citing unnamed Chinese diplomats that the governments had agreed to resume military talks that Beijing suspended earlier this year in pique at US weapons sales to Chinese rival Taiwan.

In his meeting with the US officials, Hu noted Obama's trip to Beijing last November and said "relations have on the whole maintained healthy development thanks to the efforts of both sides."