Hu meets with Obama in Washington on China-US ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao and <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />US President Barack Obama met in Washington Monday to exchange views on China-US relations and other important world and regional issues of common concern. This is the first meeting between Hu and Obama since the US president paid a state visit to China last November.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Last November, Obama paid a state visit to China, during which Hu and Obama held in-depth, productive and candid discussions on the US-China relations and other issues of mutual interest. The two sides reached agreement on advancing the US-China relations in the new era.

However, not long ago, the China-US relations suffered undue disruption, which is in the interest of neither side.

China has always viewed ties with the United States from a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to work with the United States to further implement the consensus reached by the two sides, adhere to the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiques and the Sino-US joint statement, and respect each other's core interests and major concerns, Hu said.

He said that China is also ready to cooperate with the US side to properly address differences and sensitive issues between the two nations, strengthen dialogue and cooperation in all areas and make unremitting efforts to develop the positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship.

The Chinese president said that properly handling the Taiwan and Tibet issues, which concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and represent China's core interests, is key to ensuring a sound and stable development of the China-US relations.

Obama said that the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relations between the United States and China are very important for both countries and the world.

Healthy and stable relations between the Untied States and China serve the strategic and long-term interests of both countries, he noted.

The US president reaffirmed his country's adherence to the one-China policy, which it recognizes as one of China's core interests.