on Wednesday pledged cooperation on trade, business, human rights and
intellectual property issues while downplaying the underlying tensions
between the two nations.
As the two took questions from American and Chinese reporters, the
“A positive, constructive, cooperative U.S.-
He said that neither country should “view every issue through the lens of rivalry.”
But while the talk was largely of partnership, firm
agreements on a number of sticking points between the two nations,
especially concerning
“
There “needs to be further adjustment in the exchange rate,” Obama said. “We’ll continue to look for the value of
Asked whether the U.S. should seek to expand its business partnership with
despite widespread criticism of its human rights record, Obama said he
had “been very candid with President Hu about these issues.
Occasionally, they are a source of tension between our two governments.”
But, he said, “We can engage and discuss these
issues in a frank and candid way, focus on those areas where we can
agree while acknowledging there are areas where we are going to
disagree.
“Thirty years from now,” in
Asked directly about
At the same time, Hu spoke of “different national circumstances” between his country and
in terms of human rights,” Hu said. “We will continue our efforts to
improve the lives of the Chinese people and to promote democracy and
the rule of law.”
And in a slight reproach, he suggested that Obama and
Obama stressed that
must make its domestic markets increasingly open to American-made
products as per-capita income of Chinese citizens rises. “As we look to
the future, what’s needed, I believe, is a spirit of cooperation that
is also friendly competition,” Obama said. “There has to be a level
playing field for American companies competing in
“We want to sell you all kinds of stuff,” Obama said
to Hu. “We want to sell you planes, we want to sell you cars, we want
to sell you software.”
As part of the
Obama also emphasized protection of U.S. intellectual property in
It was the eighth time the two leaders have met since Obama took office in 2009. When Obama visited
in November of that year, the two leaders did not take questions from
the press. The two took a handful of questions Wednesday during the
hourlong session, which was slowed by protracted translation
difficulties.
On Wednesday evening, Hu was to be feted at an elegant state dinner at the
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