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Reuters

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.
Xi-Obama talks to focus on simmering China, US disputes on sidelines of nuclear security summit
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
US President Barack Obama
“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.
War on Korean peninsula inevitable as tensions over nuclear weapons tests escalate, warns retired Chinese general
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
China’s President Xi Jinping
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.
US offers to brief China on over deployment of THAAD missile system in South Korea
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”.


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Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping and Barack Obama agree to cooperate to confront North Korean nuclear threat 

China's President Xi Jinping (right) held talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Thursday. File photo: AFP

Xi-Obama talks to focus on simmering China, US disputes on sidelines of nuclear security summit

The flags of the United States (left) and China are flown before the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. Photo: EPA

epa05236899 President of China, Xi Jinping (C) arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, outside Washington DC, USA, 30 March 2016. World leaders and their delegations are converging in Washington, DC, for the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, which takes place from 31 March to 01 April. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

Chinese president Xi Jinping arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Wednesday, March 30, 2016. Jinping is in Washington to attend the Nuclear Security Summit. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

War on Korean peninsula inevitable as tensions over nuclear weapons tests escalate, warns retired Chinese general

A picture released earlier this month by North Korea’s Central News Agency of a new rocket launching system. Photo: AFP

US offers to brief China on over deployment of THAAD missile system in South Korea

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptor is launched during a successful intercept test by the US military. File photo: Reuters

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Diplomacy

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
