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https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1861551/china-us-address-differences-candidly-barack-obama
China/ Diplomacy

China, US to address differences ‘candidly’ as Barack Obama welcomes Xi Jinping to White House

Obama welcomes Xi to White House, urging frank discussion over issues that have strained ties

President Xi Jinping and his first lady Peng Liyuan join US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle in greeting people at the White House yesterday as the state visit continued. Photo: AFP

"Even as our nations cooperate, I believe - and I know you agree - that we must address our differences candidly," Obama said as he welcomed Xi to the White House. "The United States will always speak out on behalf of fundamental truths. We believe nations are more successful … when our companies compete on a level playing field, when disputes are resolved peacefully and when the universal human rights of all people are upheld."

Xi said Sino-US relations had entered a new starting point, which required the two powers to enhance win-win cooperation.

"[Our] bilateral relationship … must be defined by peace, respect and cooperation," he said.

The two leaders met amid great pomp, with a military honour guard and a fife and drum corps on the White House lawn to welcome Xi.

While there has been little expectation that Xi's first US state visit will lead to a major breakthrough, analysts say the opportunity for the two leaders to meet is important as the White House has been finding it hard to get its views heard at the highest level of the Chinese leadership.

Xi and Obama spent a "number of hours" together on Thursday, including an approximately three-hour private dinner, officials said. "[They want] a smaller, intimate setting to have a real exchange," said the National Security Council's Daniel Kritenbrink.

But Bonnie Glaser, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said: "I don't think there is any real chemistry between them. They bring an enormous amount of domestic pressure."

Still, the opportunity to meet was considered by the White House as especially important.

"It has been difficult for the US to get its views heard … Sometimes you just have to get Obama in the room," Glaser said.

Xi's visit comes at a time of heightened tensions as the two powers tussle over issues including cyberespionage, China's posturing in the South China Sea, and Washington's perception that Beijing intends to challenge the world order.

Analysts say Xi likely used the meeting to elaborate his thoughts on "a new type of great power relations", a concept he first raised with Obama in 2013.

Xi has said the concept incorporates three elements: that both sides avoid confrontation, promote mutual respect of each other's "core interests", and seek win-win cooperation. But the US is wary "core interests" might include China's sovereignty over the disputed South China Sea.

Peking University professor Jia Qingguo said it was unlikely Xi would clarify whether the term included the South China Sea issue, a move that would almost certainly upset the relationship.

Additional reporting by Associated Press, Agence France-Presse