During their meeting, the first one this year, both leaders also experienced smooth communication on the Iran nuclear issue and the yuan exchange rate to reach some common ground. Such consultation between the heads of two nuclear powers on Teheran's nuclear program, a long-standing and thorny international issue, is beneficial to world security. The bilateral reiteration of dialogue and cooperation as the main channel to resolve disputes on the yuan exchange rate has also helped avoid an escalated confrontation between the two economic powerhouses. Handling the issue properly will be key to a further warming of Sino-US relations.

At the BRIC summit, Hu also mapped out China's policies and proposals on relations between the four countries. It has been China's long-standing stance for a consolidated relationship between Brazil, Russia, India and China to be based on political mutual trust, pragmatic cooperation, reciprocity and mutual benefit. The "open, transparent and win-win results" principle advocated by Hu will help cement the foundation for cooperation and narrow policy differences for the BRIC members.

A fruitful and deeper cooperation among BRIC members remains particularly important at a time when a new international political and economic order has yet to be framed. Hu's practical proposals were widely echoed among other heads of BRIC members, as indicated by the publication of a joint declaration after the summit that advocates a gradual, pragmatic, open and transparent manner to push for dialogue and cooperation between the four countries.

President Hu's decision to postpone a scheduled visit to Chile and Venezuela and return home to direct earthquake relief work in Yushu, Qinghai province, also garnered positive reactions in the international community. The move is seen as another embodiment of the Chinese government's long-advocated "people-first" principle.

The author is a researcher with the Institute of American Studies under the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.