WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama called on Chinese President Hu Jintao to work together on the Iranian nuclear standoff, the White House said.

The two leaders also discussed the importance of a "positive bilateral relationship, in what was an hour-long conversation with Hu by telephone from Air Force One.

The US leader emphasized the need for the United States and China to implement "the G20 commitments designed to produce balanced and sustainable growth," the White House said in a statement.

Obama welcomed Hu's attendance at the international summit on nuclear security to be held in Washington later this month.

He said it would be an "important opportunity for them to address their shared interest in stopping nuclear proliferation and protecting against nuclear terrorism."