Obama says US, China to shape 21st
century
July 27, 2009
US President Barack
Obama on Monday called for broad cooperation with China to set the
course of the 21st century, saying the relationship between the
Pacific powers was "as important as any" in the
world.
Kicking off two days of in-depth talks in Washington, Obama
appealed for cooperation on a broad range of issues from reviving
the global economy to fighting climate change, while also nudging
Beijing on human rights.
"The relationship between the United States and
China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as
any bilateral relationship in the world," Obama said.
"That reality must underpin our partnership. That is the
responsibility we bear," he said.
In what appeared to be a coordinated new slogan, both Obama and
Chinese President Hu Jintao, who sent a message to the meeting,
said they sought a "positive, constructive, and comprehensive
relationship."
"Our two countries should endeavor to expand common ground,
reduce differences, enhance mutual trust and strengthen
cooperation," Hu said.
Obama, who is expected to travel to China later this year, has
sought to broaden the relationship with Beijing which is now the
largest creditor to the heavily indebted United States.
The dialogue revamps an earlier set of talks launched under
former US president George W. Bush in 2006 that focused solely on
economic issues.
But China, whose delegation is led by State Councilor Dai
Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang Qishan, said it would press the
United States on concerns including over the safety of its more
than 750 billion dollars invested in US Treasury bonds.
A senior US official said the first day of talks, led by
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner, was "very constructive, very candid," but mostly
general.
"We're going to spend most of our time getting to know each
other," David Sheer, director of China affairs at the State
Department, told reporters on a conference call.
He said the two sides would identify "common interests" to
pursue in future sessions.
US leaders have generally refrained from describing the China
relationship as the "most important" in the world. Clinton used the
language during her failed presidential bid, raising concerns among
some US allies, particularly Japan.
Clinton on Monday rejected
predictions of a "multi-polar world," often used as codeword by
Chinese, Russian and other policymakers to signal the end of a
US-dominated era.
"Although past relations between the United States and China
have been influenced by the idea of a balance of power among great
nations, the fresh thinking of the 21st century moves us from a
multi-polar world to a multi-partner world," Clinton said.
Both Clinton and Obama, while pledging not to see China as a
rival, also acknowledged differences with the rising Asian power --
particularly on human rights...
http://www.spacewar.com/reports