BEIJING, April 10, 2010 (AFP) - Chinese President Hu Jintao is to sit down with US President Barack Obama next week in Washington as the two sides look to turn the corner on months of bickering.
The presence of Hu in the US capital is a sign that relations are recovering from a chill, which set in after Obama visited Hu in Beijing last November, over issues including the value of the yuan, trade and Internet freedom.
 |
| (FILES) US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) following a statement to the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 17, 2009. AFP |
A surprise visit to Beijing on Thursday by US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who opted to discuss some of the trouble spots in person after pushing back a potentially sensitive report, also served to soothe tensions.
“We believe we can address challenges in our relationship,” Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told journalists at a briefing on Hu's trip, which will also include several stops in Latin America.
“Certainly China and the United States may have different views on many issues, including the world economic crisis and trade, but we can't overlook the fact that both also have shared interests.”The two countries are working together to resolve the standoff over Iran's suspect nuclear programme, and are also partners in stalled negotiations to end North Korea's atomic drive.
Just over a week ago, Obama held a rare one-hour telephone conversation with Hu that “underscored the importance of working together to ensure that Iran lives up to its international obligations”, the White House said.
The two leaders will likely meet on Monday on the sidelines of an international summit on nuclear security, the White House has said. |
E-mail
