SAN FRANCISCO -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's first state visit to the United States will be "critical" for the U.S.-China relationship, U.S. Senator Dianna Feinstein said on Thursday.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Committee of 100 in San Francisco, Feinstein said she was greatly impressed by China's progress in recent years.

The Committee of 100, an organization of prominent U.S. citizens with Chinese descent, is aimed at pushing forward U.S.-China cooperation.

"No large country on Earth has changed more in 30 years," Feinstein said in a keynote speech at the meeting. "Shanghai has become a world-class city."

As China is confidently growing into a major, responsible nation of the world, it is the ideal time now for the country to team up with the United States and work together on mutual interests around the globe, Feinstein added.

She hoped President Hu and U.S. President George W. Bush, "leaders of two very different nations," would tackle issues significant to the U.S.-China relationship, such as trade, currency, and particularly, the Taiwan issue.

"Taiwan independence" could ruin the cross-(Taiwan) Strait peace and U.S.-China ties, Feinstein said.

Also at the meeting were Charlene Barshefsky, the former U.S. Trade Representative, and Richard D'Amato, the chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

Talking about the development of China, Barshefsky said, "The re-emergence of China as a major world economy will be the most important (event) in our lifetime and our children's lifetime."

It is not reasonable to simply hold China responsible for the growing U.S.-China trade deficit, she said, adding that "the rise of Asia" has coincided with "the erosion" of some U.S. bases.

Barshefsky also said that she opposes pressing China for an immediate free currency exchange and floating regime.

China's banking system is "not strong enough" for that now, shesaid. "We must take a very careful look."