Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday that China and the United States should work together to tackle global challenges.

"It is all the more necessary for China and the United States to strengthen their cooperation to meet such challenges," Hu told a joint press conference with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, citing terrorism, security of humanity, international financial crisis and growth of the world economy.

He said the two countries should also join hands in addressing regional hotspots, fighting transnational crimes, combating piracy and preventing and treating communicable diseases.

The Chinese leader put forward a three-point proposal for both countries to do a better job in this regard.

He emphasized that China and the United States need to keep up the spirit of cooperation as if they were in the same boat and they should row in the same direction.

He also recommended increasing communication and coordination between the two countries.

"We need to respect and accommodate each other's interests and concerns," Hu added.

When answering the same question concerning whether the two sides should enhance their strategic mutual trust, Obama said the more the two nations can build a baseline of trust, the more likely they are able to solve frictions or irritants in a more constructive way.

"It's so important that not only governments but people in both countries understand the challenges that each country faces and not view every issue through the lens of rivalry," he said.

Hu unfurled his first state visit to the United States Tuesday since Obama took office in 2009.