Xi Jinping and Barack Obama agree to cooperate to confront North Korean nuclear threat
Presidents of China and the US also hope to find ‘active solutions’ to disputes such as cybersecurity, human rights and maritime conflicts ahead of Washington summit
US President Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping have pledged to cooperate to confront the North Korean nuclear threat, while working to narrow persistent differences over cybersecurity, human rights and maritime conflicts.
Obama, opening a global nuclear security summit near the White House on Thursday, also joined leaders of Japan and South Korea in calling for further joint steps to deter North Korea.
The display of diplomatic unity came as world leaders sought to ramp up pressure on the insular country’s government following worrisome nuclear provocations.
President Xi and I are both committed to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula
“President Xi and I are both committed to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,” Obama said as he and Xi sat down for a meeting on the sidelines of the summit.
“We’re going to discuss how we can discourage actions like nuclear missile tests that escalate tensions and violate international obligations.”
The US has long urged China, the North’s traditional ally, to take a more forceful role in pressing North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programme.
The Obama administration was encouraged by China’s role in passing new stringent UN sanctions punishing the North, and was urging Beijing to implement those sanctions dutifully.
Xi told Obama that all parties should avoid any words or acts that may further escalate tension on the Korean peninsula and do nothing that could affect other nations’ security interests, Xinhua reported.
Xi, addressing reporters through a translator, said the two economic powers would keep deepening ties on trade, law enforcement and climate change.
He said the US and China must work together promote peace in light of the rising global terror threat.
“China and the US have a responsibility to work together,” Xi said.
China and the US have a responsibility to work together
As for their “disputes and disagreements”, the Chinese leader said the two sides could “seek active solutions through dialogue and consultation”.
Yet in a nod to deep tensions between the US and China, Obama said he planned to raise thornier issues during their meeting as well – including the disputed South China Sea, where China is asserting territorial claims despite competing claims by its neighbours.
Using careful diplomatic language long-preferred by Beijing, Obama said the US welcomes China’s peaceful rise to prosperity.
“I very much appreciate President Xi’s willingness to have conversations on these issues in a constructive way,” Obama said.
In a briefing after the meeting, China’s assistant foreign minister, Zheng Zeguang, said both sides had “constructive talks”.
But Zheng made clear that China and the US remained at odds over the contested South China Sea and over US missile defence plans following North Korea’s recent nuclear and rocket tests.
Xi told Obama that he hoped Washington would “strictly” abide by its commitment not to take a position on sovereignty issues and instead play a constructive role to maintain peace and stability, Zheng said.
“The hope is that all parties will correctly view and handle the South China Sea and adopt an objective and impartial attitude ... particularly countries outside this region,” he said.
Xinhua also quoted Xi as warning that China would not accept violations of its sovereignty in the name of freedom of navigation – a reference to air and naval patrols the US has conducted within what China considers its territorial waters.
As their meeting concluded, the US and China released a joint statement vowing robust collaboration to improve nuclear security “for the common benefit and security of all”.
