BEIJING: President Barack Obama's national security adviser, Thomas Donilon, has met Chinese President Hu Jintao to discuss security in the Middle East and Asia.    

No details of their meeting on Tuesday were immediately released, but the two were also expected to discuss bilateral relations, non-proliferation and global economic issues.

Donilon's visit comes as Syria plunges deeper into violence with rebels pressing their fight to topple President Bashar Assad. China joined Russia last week in vetoing a resolution backed by the US and other western nations that would have imposed new sanctions on Assad's regime. Donilon also met State Councilor Dai Bingguo, China's top diplomat.—AP