Wen meets Obama on Sino-US ties

PHNOM PENH - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao discussed bilateral relations with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday on the sidelines of the seventh East Asia Summit in Cambodia.

Wen said the Sino-US relationship is now one of the most important bilateral ties in the world, adding that maintaining its steady, healthy and stable development conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples and is conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large.

He voiced hope the two countries would deliver positive messages to the world, such as they persisted in: promoting the bilateral cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit; exploring the construction of new relations between big powers; and consolidating and enhancing bilateral mechanisms, including the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the High-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange and the Strategic Security Dialogue.

The two countries should also show the world they would continuously strengthen economic and trade cooperation, deal with difficulties and settle differences through large-scale economic and financial cooperation, and intensify communication and consultations on international and regional affairs, especially on cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, Wen said.

For his part, Obama said he is committed to working with China as US-China cooperation is of vital importance to the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific and the world.

The United States and China, the two largest economies in the world, shoulder special responsibilities and play an important and leading role in promoting economic balance and sustainable development in Asia and the world, he said.

It is very important for leaders of the two countries to maintain contact and communication on global and regional issues of common concern, Obama said, adding Washington is willing to further enhance the ties.

Leaders of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States will attend the East Asia Summit to be held in Phnom Penh Tuesday afternoon.