US and China pledge greater cooperation
Tuesday, 17, Nov 2009 06:00
By Richard James.
Chinese president Hu Jintao and his US counterpart Barack Obama have pledged to work together to tackle a range of issues from climate change to nuclear proliferation.
Following talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, both leaders pledged to step up cooperation, stressing how the importance of working together outweighed their points of difference.
Mr Obama told reporters afterwards the pair had "talked about continuing to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between our nations".
The US president also said he welcomed China's desire to become a bigger player on the international stage.
"China and the United States share extensive common interests and broad prospects for cooperation on a series of major issues important to mankind's peace and stability and development," Mr Hu agreed.
On nuclear issues, both leaders said Iran had to prove its controversial nuclear programme was peaceful and transparent as well as calling on North Korea to rejoin nuclear proliferation talks.
On climate change, Mr Obama said the US and China were hoping for a comprehensive deal at next month's crucial Copenhagen summit.
While some have conceded it may not be possible to agree on a deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Obama called for a deal that would "rally the world" and have "immediate operational effect".
On economic and trade issues, Mr Hu called for Beijing and Washington to build an even closer relationship and continue to oppose protectionism.
China's questionable human rights record has been a sticking point between the two countries in the past and on Tuesday Mr Obama urged the Chinese authorities to guarantee basic rights for all its citizens.
The US president also urged a resumption of talks with the representatives of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.
"We did note that while we recognise that Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China, the United States supports the early resumption of dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and Beijing," he said.
Mr Obama is currently embarking on a whirlwind tour of Asia and is due to remain in China today to meet premier Wen Jiabao before travelling to South Korea later in the week.