The population for this current study will include stage 1 and stage 2 hypertensive patients who are newly diagnosed or didn't have treatment during the last 3 months and patients who are currently treated but uncontrolled on present monotherapy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment with valsartan versus a treatment with amlodipine in reaching blood pressure control after 14 weeks of treatment.

Inclusion criteria Stage/grade 1 or stage/ grade 2 hypertension, MSSBP ≥ 140 mm Hg, and/ or MSDBP ≥ 90 mm Hg, at Visit 1 and 2 in untreated patients Or Patients who are currently treated on monotherapy and uncontrolled and have a blood pressure ≤ 160/100 mm Hg at Visit 1 and Visit 2

Exclusion criteria Current treatment with a CCB MSSBP ≥ 180 mm Hg or MSDBP ≥ 110 mm Hg at any time between visit 1 and Visit 2 History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or to drugs with similar chemical structures Evidence of a secondary form of hypertension Cerebrovascular accident or myocardial infarction during the last 12 months, prior to Visit 1 Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply