WASHINGTON - PRESIDENT Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao agreed to forge 'more positive' US-China relations in their first telephone call since the US leader came to power, the White House said on Friday.
The conversation, 11 days into Mr Obama's presidency, followed sharp exchanges between the two sides over China's currency policy and calls from Beijing for a stepped up effort between the two giants to beat the economic crisis.
'President Obama and China's President Hu Jintao spoke this morning of their intention to build a more positive and constructive US-China relationship,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
'President Obama told President Hu that he looked forward to meeting with him and to early contacts and exchanges between senior officials of our two countries,' Gibbs said.
'The two presidents discussed the international financial crisis and agreed that increased close cooperation between the US and China is vital.'
'President Obama stressed the need to correct global trade imbalances as well as to stimulate global growth and get credit markets flowing.' -- AFP
The conversation, 11 days into Mr Obama's presidency, followed sharp exchanges between the two sides over China's currency policy and calls from Beijing for a stepped up effort between the two giants to beat the economic crisis.
'President Obama and China's President Hu Jintao spoke this morning of their intention to build a more positive and constructive US-China relationship,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
'President Obama told President Hu that he looked forward to meeting with him and to early contacts and exchanges between senior officials of our two countries,' Gibbs said.
'The two presidents discussed the international financial crisis and agreed that increased close cooperation between the US and China is vital.'
'President Obama stressed the need to correct global trade imbalances as well as to stimulate global growth and get credit markets flowing.' -- AFP