President Obama will visit Shanghai and Beijing November 15–18 to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. While in China, Obama hopes to emphasize the importance of the U.S.-Chinese relationship and build trust between the two nations. He arrived in Shanghai on Sunday, and then flew into Beijing late on Monday.
Obama told President Hu Jintao that more people-to-people exchanges between the U.S. and China would lead to greater cooperation on economic and security issues.
Obama said at a meeting of senior government officials in Beijing's Great Hall of the People that the American people were interested in stronger relations with the people of China.
"The more that we can encourage people to people exchanges that are consistent with the discussions that we're having at the government level, the more that China and the United States will be able to work cooperatively on a whole range of issues -- both economic issues, security issues and global issues -- that are in the interests not just of our two nations, but the entire world," said Obama.
He told Hu that the smaller group discussions between the two leaders before the formal talks were very constructive.
"As we both affirmed, the United States and China have a great many mutual interests, and after 30 years of bilateral relations, I think it's fair to say that our two governments have continued to move forward in a way that can bring even greater cooperation in the future," Obama said.
"We hope the US understand and support China's government's stance and concerns, properly manage the Taiwan issue, and disallow any 'pro-Tibet independence' and 'the East Turkistan' forces to commit to any moves on the American soil to separate China," Hu said.
The East Turkistan has long sought to separate Xinjiang from China.
Obama stressed that the US recognizes and respects China' sovereignty and territorial integrity on Taiwan and other issues.
He said Washington is not intent to interrupt China's core interests.
Obama reiterated that the US follows its one-China policy and abides by the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiqués. Washington's one-China policy is solid and lasting, he added.
Obama also said Tibet is part of China.
"We did note that while we recognize that Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China," Obama said at a Joint Statement with Hu. "The United States supports the early resumption of dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve any concerns and differences that the two sides may have."
Apart from enhancing the strategic mutual trust, Hu suggested both countries keep close high-level exchanges and dialogues on all other issues.
At Obama's invitation, Hu will visit the US in next year.
Hu also called for more bilateral cooperation to jointly deal with "all sorts of" regional and global challenges.
Obama also said international cooperation is necessary for the world to face all global challenges.
He said the current US government, which is quite different from its predecessors in foreign policy, supports dialogues between nations and multilateralism.
The US goes not seek to contain China, as it welcomes a strong, prosperous, and successful China with bigger role in international affairs. He said the US appreciates China's effort to help resolve the nuclear issues of Iran and the Korean Peninsula.
The 21st century is different the 20th century, Obama said. Inter-state relations should not be a "zero-sum game" and countries should move beyond the "Cold War mentality".
Obama, 48, is the first US president who started a state visit to China within the first year since taking office.
After meeting Hu, Obama visited the Forbidden City.
Obama will meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday and visit the Great Wall in the afternoon.
His team will then leave for the Republic of Korea.
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