"We had an in-depth exchange of views and reached important agreement on China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues of shared interest," President Hu told a joint press conference with Obama following their meeting.[break]
The Chinese leader said both sides "agree to further push forward the positive, cooperative and comprehensive U.S.-China relationship and commit to work together to build a China-U.S. cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit so as to better benefit people in our own countries and the world over."
Both sides also agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in economy and trade, energy and environment, science and technology, infrastructure construction, culture and education, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, law enforcement and other areas so as to achieve mutual benefit, according to the Chinese president.
Saying his talks with Obama were conducted "under candid, pragmatic and constructive atmosphere," Hu said China appreciates Obama´s commitment to a positive and constructive China policy, and to stable and growing China-U.S. relations since he took office two years ago.
Hu noted that China and the United States share expanding common interests and shoulder increasing common responsibilities, and voiced support for expanding military exchanges between the two sides.
"We believe expansion of military exchanges and cooperation will be conducive to deepening mutual trust between our two countries," Hu said.
While stressing that China-U.S. cooperation has great significance for the two countries and for the world, the Chinese leader said the two sides "should firmly adhere to the right direction of our relationship; respect each other´s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests; promote the long-term sound and steady growth of China-U.S. relations and make even greater contributions to maintaining and promoting world peace and development."
During President Hu´s state visit, the two countries had signed a number of cooperation agreements. "These will inject fresh momentum into our bilateral cooperation and create a great many job opportunities for our two countries," Hu said.
On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, he said both countries agreed to work together with relevant parties to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula, promote denuclearization of the peninsula and achieve lasting peace and security in Northeast Asia.
The Chinese leader reaffirmed China´s firm commitment to the path of peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening up.
"China is a friend and partner of all countries, and China´s development is an opportunity for the world," he said.
Meanwhile, Hu said he and Obama discussed some disagreements in the economic and trade area, with both sides pledging "to continue to appropriately resolve these according to the principle of mutual respect and consultation on an equal footing."
Addressing the same press conference, Obama said cooperation between the two countries is good for the two sides and for the whole world.
"Along with our G-20 partners, we´ve moved from the brink of catastrophe to the beginning of global economic recovery," he said.
Noting China is one of the top markets for American exports, Obama said the annual U.S. exports to China in goods and services support "more than half a million American jobs."
He praised China´s extraordinary economic growth that "has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. "This is a tribute to the Chinese people," he added.
The U.S. leader also expressed his satisfaction with the reaching of dozens of deals between the two sides that will increase U.S. exports "by more than 45 billion U.S. dollars."
Hu, who unfurled his first state visit to the United States Tuesday since Obama took office in 2009, just concluded his eighth meeting with Obama before the press conference.
Before the talks, a grand welcome ceremony for President Hu was held at the White House.
Hu said at the ceremony that his visit is aimed at increasing mutual trust, enhancing friendship, deepening cooperation and pushing forward the positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship for the 21st century.
With Obama, Hu concedes China´s rights need help
(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) In a rare concession on a highly sensitive issue, Chinese President Hu Jintao used his White House visit on Wednesday to acknowledge "a lot still needs to be done" to improve human rights in his nation accused of repressing its people. President Barack Obama pushed China to adopt fundamental freedoms but assured Hu the U.S. considers the communist nation a friend and vital economic partner.
Hu´s comments met with immediate skepticism from human rights advocates, who dismissed them as words backed by no real history of action. Hu contended his country has "made enormous progress" but provided no specifics.
Still, his remarks seemed to hearten and surprise U.S. officials, coming during an elaborate visit that centered on boosting trade and trust between the world´s two largest economies.
More broadly, Hu and Obama sought to show off a more mature and respectful relationship, not the one often defined by disputes over currency, sovereignty and freedoms. Hu said he wanted even closer contact with Obama; Obama sought again to embrace China´s rise, and the two men shared some unexpected laughs.
The Chinese president was treated lavishly, granted the honor of the third state dinner of Obama´s presidency. He was welcomed in the morning to the sounds of military bands and the smiles of children on the South Lawn; he was capping the evening at a black-tie White House gala of jazz musicians and all-American food.
Eager to show progress, particularly with the unemployment weighing down his country, Obama said the nations sealed business deals that would mean $45 billion in U.S. exports and create roughly 235,000 jobs. The package included moves by China to expand U.S. investment and curtail theft of intellectual property.
China´s human rights record is poor and worsening, with abuses ranging from censorship to illegal detention of dissidents to executions without due process, according to the U.S. government. In a packed news conference — one designed to underscore the freedom of speech on Obama´s home turf — Hu was pressed to defend his country´s treatment of its people. He initially did not answer, saying he never heard the question translated, although the White House said that it was.
When prodded a second time, Hu defended his country´s promotion of human rights. But then he added that China is enduring challenges as it develops and "a lot still needs to be done in China in terms of human rights." He said China stood to gain from other countries´ input, saying: "We´re also willing to learn."
For his part, Obama had to find a balance, standing up for freedoms while not overstepping Hu during the uncommon honor of a state visit. Obama said his nation´s relationship with China is bettering the world´s economy and security, and that it cannot stop over "tension" about human rights fairness.
Pressing for a more cautious long view, Obama said: "I want to suggest that there has been an evolution in China over the last 30 years since the first normalization over relations between the United States and China. And my expectation is that, 30 years from now, we will have seen further evolution."
Laced in their comments, however, were reminders that no amount of cooperation would trump each country´s core interests.
Charles Freeman, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that Hu´s comments on human rights were a minor concession to U.S. concerns. "They have learned over the years that throwing a bone to the Americans is a pretty good way to shut them up," Freeman said.
Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, said China had issued similar rhetoric before but that it added up to little more than a public relations exercise.
Earlier, as Hu´s visit was just beginning, Obama was blunt about human rights. "History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful, and the world is more just when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all people are upheld," he said.
White House officials said Hu, privately to Obama, expressed the same sentiment about China´s need to do more on human rights. They expressed surprise that Hu made the statement publicly and while overseas. Chinese leaders have typically argued that how the country handles human rights is an internal matter.
In private, Obama specifically inquired about the case of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, a jailed dissident who was prevented from attending the Dec. 10 prize ceremony in the Norwegian capital. Obama, who himself won the prize last year, did not mention Liu in his public comments on Wednesday.
On another contentious issue, Obama said that the United States continues to believe that China´s currency is undervalued, making Chinese imports cheaper in the United States and U.S. goods more expensive in China. He said Hu has been moving toward a market-based system, "but it´s not as fast as we want."
"President Hu´s concerned, understandably, about how rapid this transition takes and the disruptions that may occur," Obama said as his Chinese counterpart stood beside him in an elegant East Room crammed with media and dignitaries. "But I´m confident that it´s the right thing to do."
The U.S. president said it was time to stop viewing every issue of the China-U.S. relationship through the lens of rivalry. He made the case that as China grows and expands the living standard of its people, that benefit is not just humanitarian, but economic. And by that he meant good for U.S. companies.
"We want to sell you all kinds of stuff," Obama said to his Chinese guests, prompting laughter. "We want to sell you planes. We want to sell you cars. We want to sell you software." He also made clear: "I absolutely believe that China´s peaceful rise is good for the world and it´s good for America."
Mindful of protocol gaffes five years ago, when Hu visited President George W. Bush, the White House seemed to host the state visit without a hitch — that is, except for translation problems that made the news conference long and at times confusing. Hu walked with Obama around the South Lawn grounds during the arrival ceremony and spent time shaking the hands of smiling children, even sharing a moment with the U.S. president´s youngest daughter, 9-year-old Sasha.
Related story
Majority consensus reached over Khamenei's successor: Iran's ne...
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
