US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner takes part in the economic talks of the fourth round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue on Thursday. PHOTO BY XU JINGXING / CHINA DAILY

China and the US will "build a stronger economic relationship" despite challenges in bilateral relations, United States Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner said on Friday.

He made the remarks in the beginning of the meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the second day of the fourth round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing, with the presence of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Hu said many important consensus and achievements have been reached with efforts made by the two sides in these two days.

Clinton said the Sino-US relationship "is stronger than it has ever been."

The two nations will find more opportunities for cooperation, she said.

"We have now a very open and honest relationship", she said, adding that the two sides will bridge differences "whenever and wherever possible".

In the last three and a half years, Hu and US President Barack Obama have met 11 times, in addition to numerous other bilateral meetings.