Obama,Hu show cooperation,and differences

Both leaders spoke in bold terms of the growing relationship between the countries. They emphasized cooperation on the economy,climate change,energy and to varying degrees the nuclear threats of Iran and North Korea. In a minor agreement,the two set a date for resuming a long-stalled dialogue on human rights early next year.

But differences remained,underscoring that tensions would hardly be erased in Obama8217;s first,high-profile visit to China.

Hu put in a barb about recent US levies on imports of Chinese-made tires and steal,calling for a stronger joint stand against protectionism. Obama reiterated that human rights were universal and need to be respected by all.

These differences came carefully muffled amid talk of cooperation,a sign that both leaders acknowledge that as China continues to grow in power it and the US must find ways to work together to avoid conflict.

Obama spoke at length about the nations8217; joint interests and said,8221;I do not believe that one country8217;s success must come at the expense of another.8221; Both leaders repeated their new official description of relations as 8220;positive,cooperative and comprehensive.8221;

Obama and Hu said they agreed on restarting the collapsed six-nation effort to rid North Korea of its nuclear programs. The Chinese said the effort was essential to 8220;peace and stability in northeast Asia.8221;

Beijing has supported sterner sanctions against Pyongyang for its continued nuclear weapons program,though it has done little to enforce them against its neighbour and ally.

On Iran,where the US needs China8217;s clout to help pressure the nation to give up any of its own nuclear weapons positions,Obama spoke with sterner language than Hu.

8220;Iran has an opportunity to present and demonstrate its peaceful intentions,but if it fails to take this opportunity,there will be consequences,8221; the US president said. Hu made no mention of consequences,saying the Iran conflict is important to resolve through negotiations.

China has significant economic ties with Iran,and Beijing has appeared less willing to endorse a tougher approach to restrict Tehran8217;s uranium enrichment and suspected pursuit of atomic bombs.

The Chinese president also called on the US to respect China8217;s 8220;core interests8221; 8211; code for ending support for Taiwan and for the Dalai Lama,in his Tibetan government-in-exile. Obama obliged by saying that Tibet was part of China,but urged China to restart talks with the Dalai Lama8217;s representatives 8211; something Hu did not mention.

On climate,Obama said the United States and China are looking for a comprehensive deal during next month8217;s climate change summit that will 8220;rally the world.8221;

Obama said the goal at the Copenhagen meeting should be an agreement that has 8220;immediate operational effect,8221; not just a political declaration. As the world8217;s two largest consumers and producers of energy,Obama said the United States and China must play a key role in negotiating an agreement. Hu committed to helping,but only within China8217;s capabilities.

Obama said China has helped the United States pull out of the worst recession in a generation. He said a revised economic approach will help increase US exports and create jobs while helping bring about higher living standards in China.

Obama came to China seeking help with an array of global troubles. He and Hu sought to strike a balance between trading partners and competitors during Obama8217;s trip to China during his Asia tour.

A day before,Obama prodded China about Internet controls and free speech during a forum with students in Shanghai. His message was not widely heard in the country; his words were drastically limited online and shown on just one regional television channel.

He also suggested that China,now a giant in economic impact as well as territory,must assume a larger role on the world stage 8211; part of 8220;burden of leadership8221; it shares with the United States.

Eager to achieve a successful summit,the two leaders avoided spats on economic issues. With America8217;s budget deficit soaring to a yearly record of 1.42 trillion,China is the No. 1 lender to Washington and has expressed concern that the falling price of the dollar threatens the value of its US holdings.

In the US,American manufacturers blame China8217;s own low currency value for contributing to the loss of 5.6 million manufacturing jobs over the past decade. During that time,America8217;s trade gap with China has soared.

With sightseeing in Beijing8217;s Forbidden City sandwiched in between their talks,the two leaders8217; day was to end at a lavish state dinner in Obama8217;s honour.

Topmost on Obama8217;s ambitious agenda with Hu is the so-far elusive search for global agreement on a new climate change pact,stymied by disagreement between rich nations like the US and developing nations such as China. Wealthier countries want legally binding greenhouse-gas reduction targets for themselves as well as for energy-guzzling developing nations such as China,India and Brazil.

Those poorer nations say they will set only nonbinding goals and they demand assistance to make the transition to harder targets.