2011-01-20 03:48

China's President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama (R) shake hands in the Oval Office during a meeting after an official South Lawn arrival ceremony for Hu at the White House in Washington, January 19, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - China and the United States agreed here Wednesday to jointly establish cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

The agreement was achieved during official talks between the visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart Barack Obama at the White House after a grand welcome ceremony was held outside on the South Lawn.

During the meeting, the two presidents fully confirmed the accomplishments made in recent years by developing a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship.

Mapping out major directions to develop bilateral ties as well as key areas to deepen cooperation, the leaders also reached important consensus and achieved fruitful results.

Both sides confirmed that a sound China-US relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and benefits the peace, stability and prosperity within the Aisa-Pacific region and the world as well.

The two presidents agreed that both sides should strengthen their cooperation of mutual benefit in broad areas, enhance communications and coordination in international affairs, and further promote positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US ties.

The two nations would also work with people of various countries to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

Hu and Obama agreed to build a "positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship for the 21st century" during their first meeting in London in April 2009.

In November 2009, Obama paid a state visit to China, during which the two sides reiterated that they were "committed to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship for the 21st century, and will take concrete actions to steadily build a partnership to address common challenges."

Speaking at the welcome ceremony, President Hu said he had come to the United States to increase mutual trust, enhance friendship, deepen cooperation and promote a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship for the 21st century.

"President Hu and President Obama will map out a blueprint together for China-US cooperation for the new era. They will also have extensive and in-depth discussions on major topics of mutual interest," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at a luncheon hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York two weeks ago.

In a written interview with The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal Monday, President Hu said, "China and the United States have major influence in international affairs and shoulder important responsibilities in upholding world peace and promoting common development."

"Under the new circumstances, the common interests of our two countries have been growing and areas of cooperation expanding," he said.

When meeting the Chinese foreign minister on January 4, Obama said he "looked forward to the visit of President Hu and to the US and China working together effectively to address global challenges."

Arriving in the US capital Tuesday, President Hu is on his first state visit to the United States since Obama took office. He will also travel to Chicago on Thursday and wrap up his visit on Friday.