President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart, Barack Obama, have agreed to respect each other's core interests, a senior Chinese diplomat said, in trying to set an upbeat tone ahead of a nuclear summit in Washington following a period of tension.
Foreign Affairs Vice-Minister Cui Tiankai confirmed that both leaders will meet to 'have an in-depth exchange on major bilateral and international issues' on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit on Monday and Tuesday. They are expected to discuss the global economy, energy and currency issues, as well as nuclear non-proliferation, which is a key agenda item for the nuclear summit. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs also confirmed the meeting on Tuesday.
Hu will speak at the summit, delivering the first speech by a Chinese leader on nuclear security issues at a multilateral forum. Hu will also talk to leaders from the four largest developing economies.
In a telephone conversation on Friday between Hu and Obama, 'both leaders reached an important new consensus on issues of mutual concern and other issues', Cui told a briefing regarding Hu's trip.
'[The leaders] agreed their countries should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, appropriately handling disputes and sensitive issues, strengthening communication and co-operation in various spheres,' Cui said.
Relations between the two powers had recently reached a low ebb during Obama's administration, as spats arose over trade, currency, US arms sales to Taiwan, Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama, and Chinese internet controls. But both sides have taken recent steps to tone down their public disputes. Then came the decision that Hu would join Obama's summit, and the US moved to delay a Treasury Department report that could have branded China a currency manipulator.
Beijing sees its sovereignty over Taiwan and Tibet as one of its 'core national interests'. It still regards the self-ruled island as a breakaway province and condemns the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, as a separatist for seeking self-rule for his homeland, a charge he denies.
