U.S. President Barack Obama(C) arrives at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum to deliver a speech at a dialogue with Chinese youth during his four-day visit to China, Nov. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Pei Xin) Photo Gallery>>>

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said here Monday the U.S.-China cooperation enables both countries to be more prosperous and more secure and that young people are the best ambassadors.

    Obama had a dialogue with 500-strong Chinese college students Monday afternoon in the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, a highlighted activity in the first stop of his four-day maiden trip to China since taking office in January.

    He covered a wide range of topics, notably the outlook of Sino-U.S. cooperation and youth exchanges between the two countries, while delivering opening remarks and answering questions from the students and Chinese Internet users.

    POSITIVE SINO-U.S. TIES

    Obama said China is a nation that encompasses both a rich history and a belief in the promises of the future and that the same can be said of the relationship between the two countries. The Shanghai Communiqué signed 37 years ago opened the door to a new chapter of engagement between the governments and the people of the two countries, he said.

    "Today we have a positive, constructive and comprehensive relationship that opens the door to partnership on the key global issues of our time: economic recovery, development of clean energy, stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and the surge of climate change, and the promotion of peace and security in Asia and around the globe," Obama said.

    "We have seen what is possible when we build on our mutual interests and engage on the basis of mutual respect."

    The success of that engagement depends on understanding, on sustaining an open dialogue and learning about one another and from one another, he said.

    "Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulties. But the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined," Obama said, noting that the two countries "share much in common" while they are "different in certain ways."

    He said one country's success need not come at the expense of another.

    "That is why the United States insists we do not seek to contain China's rise; on the contrary, we welcome China as a strong and prosperous and successful member of the community of nations, a China that draws on the rights, strengths and creativity of individual Chinese like you," Obama said to the students.

    YOUNG PEOPLE BEST AMBASSADORS

    Obama announced in his speech that the United States would further expand its youth exchanges with China by increasing the number of students studying in China to 100,000.

    "These exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help us determine the destiny of the 21st century," he said.

    He said young people in China and U.S. are the best ambassadors and that cooperation between the countries should go beyond the governments.

    "I believe strongly that cooperation must grow beyond our government. It must be rooted in our people, in the studies we share, in the business we do, in the knowledge that we gain, and even in the sports we play, and these bridges must be built by men and women just like you, and your counterparts in America," Obama said.

    "I am absolutely confident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people, for they just like you are filled with talent, energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.

    "So let this be the next step in the steady pursuit of cooperation between our two nations and the world," Obama said.

    "If there is one thing we can take from today's dialogue, I hope that it is a commitment to continue this dialogue going forward," Obama said in his speech.

    CLIMATE CHANGE COOPERATION

    Obama said while answering a question of a student that it is vital for the U.S. and China to strengthen cooperation in dealing with the global challenge of climate change.

    "There are very few global challenges that can be solved unless China and the United States agree," he said.

    As the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters, the United States and China should assume the responsibility to curb greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

    "Unless both of our countries are willing to take critical steps in dealing with this issue, we will not be able to resolve it," Obama said.

    Obama called on world leaders to strike a deal at the Copenhagen conference in December during which they would possibly make differentiated commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    China should not take the same obligations as the United States since it has a much larger population fighting poverty, Obama said.

    ADHERENCE TO ONE-CHINA POLICY

    When asked by a netizen from Taiwan on the U.S. stance on Taiwan issues, Obama said his administration would continue to fully support the one-China policy and would be very pleased to see the improving cross-Strait relationship.

    "I have been clear in the past the United States supports a one-China policy. We do not want to change that policy or approach...I am very pleased with the reduction of tensions and improvement of the cross-Strait relations," he said.

    Obama noted it was his "deep desire and hope" that he would continue to see great improvement between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in resolving issues.

    Economic and commercial ties were helping to lower a lot of tensions, he said.

    KEY TALKS IN CAPITAL

    Obama said economic recovery, climate change and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons would be the main topics in his upcoming talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in the capital Beijing. The development of clean energy and the promotion of peace and security in Asia would also on the list of their talks, he said.

    After meeting with officials and students in Shanghai, Obama touched down in Beijing later Monday afternoon to continue his China tour. He was greeted at the airport by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping.

    U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice and National Security Advisor James Jones also arrived in Beijing on Monday afternoon.

    During his stay in Beijing, Obama is to exchange views with Chinese leaders on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern, and visit the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, two of China's most cherished heritage sites.

    China is one leg of Obama's Asian tour, following his visit to Japan and Singapore. He is set to leave Beijing for the Republic of Korea Wednesday afternoon.

Obama calls for diversity of cultures in world

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday that different countries should learn from each other to diversify cultures in the world.

U.S. President Barack Obama gestures as he delivers a speech at a dialogue with Chinese youth at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum during his four-day state visit to China, Nov. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Each country in this interconnecting world has its own culture, its own history, and its own traditions," Obama said during a dialogue with Chinese students in the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Full story

Obama says Shanghai, Chicago can cooperate on clean energy

     SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama said here Monday that Shanghai and Chicago can learn from each other especially on clean energy.

     He made the remarks during a dialogue with Chinese students at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. It is his first trip to China since taking office in January.  Full story

Obama: US has positive, constructive, comprehensive relationship with China

    SHANGHAI, Nov.16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said here Monday the United States has a positive, constructive and comprehensive relationship with China.

    Obama made the remarks during a dialogue with Chinese youth in China's economic hub Shanghai. Full story

Obama says U.S. to increase its students in China to 100,000

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said here Monday that the United States would further expand its youth exchanges with China by expanding the number of students studying here to 100,000.

    Obama said during a dialogue with Chinese students in the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum that young people are the best ambassadors and that cooperation between the countries should go beyond the governments. Full story

Obama reiterates one-China policy, pleased to see improving cross-strait ties

   SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting United States President Barrack Obama said here on Monday the United States would continue to fully support the one-China policy, and would be very pleased to see the improving cross-strait relationship. Full story

Obama welcomes China as a "strong, prosperous and successful" nation

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama said here Monday the United States does not seek to contain China's rise and he welcomes China to be a "strong and prosperous and successful member of the community of nations."

    Obama made the remarks during a dialogue with Chinese youth in China's economic hub Shanghai. Full story

Obama says economic recovery, climate change top his agenda with Chinese President Hu

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting United States President Barack Obama said on Monday he would discuss economic recovery, climate change and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons in his talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

    He made the remarks at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum during his first trip to China since taking office in January. Full story

Obama arrives for dialogue with Chinese youth

     SHANGHAI, Nov.16 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday noon arrived in Shanghai Science and Technology Museum for a dialogue with Chinese youth. Full story

Obama to meet Shanghai officials, Chinese youths before heading for Beijing

     SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- United States President Barack Obama is to meet with Shanghai Party chief Yu Zhengsheng on Monday and have a dialogue with Chinese youths afterwards before heading for Beijing in the afternoon.

     Obama arrived in Shanghai Sunday night to start his four-day state visit to China, his first trip to the country since taking office in January. Full story

U.S. President Obama arrives in China for state visit

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in China's economic hub Shanghai on Sunday night, starting a state visit to China.

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Shanghai on Nov. 15, 2009 to begin his first state visit to China. (Xinhua/Chen Fei) Photo Gallery>>>

    Air Force One touched down at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in heavy rain at about 23:10. Full story

Obama's exchange with Chinese youth to be broadcast live online

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will start his four-day China visit Sunday in Shanghai, and the highlight of his visit in the eastern city will be broadcast live by Xinhuanet, the online news service of the Xinhua News Agency.

    This is Obama's first visit to China since he took office in the White House more than a year ago. Full story

Commentary: China, U.S. sail in one boat amid global tides

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in China on Sunday night for a four-day visit to the world's most populous country.

    The visit by the leader of the largest developed country to the biggest developing one has roused great interest among observers as China-U.S. relationship has always been one of the most important and complicated bilateral ties in the world. Full story

Chinese netizens welcome Obama's visit with thousands of questions

    BEIJING, Nov.13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese netizens have prepared thousands of questions for US President Barack Obama during his Nov. 15-18 visit to China, covering a wide range of topics from Sino-U.S. relations to U.S. first lady Michelle Obama.

    A special forum of collecting questions from Chinese netizens to ask Obama was opened Friday morning by Xinhuanet, the online news service of Xinhua News Agency. Full story

Obama's China tour to operationalize cooperation agenda

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- During U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to China next week, the two countries need to operationalize what they have reached in the past months on developing a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship, a U.S. analyst said.

    "This is a very important visit both for the United States and China, and for President Obama personally, who has never been to China before. And this is really an opportunity for him to see China with his own eyes and to understand China's accomplishments and also understand its history," Bonnie Glaser, senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in an interview with Xinhua. Full story

Obama to discuss with China on three major issues

   LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. expert on China said U.S. President Barack Obama would discuss three major issues with the Chinese leaders during his coming visit to China, adding that the recent trade tensions would not impact the Sino-U.S. relations significantly.

   Clayton Bube, associate director of the U.S.-China Institute at the University of Southern California, told Xinhua in an interview that three issues loom large during Obama's meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao: the uncertain economic situation, worries over nuclear weapons proliferation, and the need to act to stem global warming. Full story

China-U.S. trade war unlikely

   BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- There is little possibility China and the United States will become embroiled in a full-blown trade war despite trade friction between the two countries will likely rise in the months ahead, China Daily reported.

   The newspaper said since U.S. President Barack Obama announced special duties on tire imports from China in September, trade tensions between two of the world's most important economies have tightened and spread to other areas, but few believe a trade war of any kind will break out. Full story

Man in the News: Barack Obama

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- On Nov. 4, 2008, he made history as the first African-American president-elect in the United States and gained unprecedented high popularity with his promise of bringing the country "change we can believe in."

    In the first 100 days of his presidency, he signaled some major departures from the previous administration, ordering the close of the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison, mapping the strategy to end the costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and reaching out to the world that has been fed up with the U.S. unilateralism. Full story