New initiatives to tackle climate change

He said the two presidents had agreed to a series of important new initiatives to tackle climate change, including a joint clean energy research center, and agreements on energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleaner uses of coal, electric vehicles and shale gas.

They had also agreed to work towards a successful outcome at the climate change talks in Copenhagen next month, including an accord that covered all the issues and had "immediate operational effect."

"This kind of comprehensive agreement would be an important step forward in an effort to rally the world around a solution to our climate challenge," he said. "And we agreed that each of us would take significant mitigation actions and stand behind these commitments."

Obama also said that there would be no solution to climate change without the efforts of both China and the US, the two largest producers and consumers of energy.

Shared interests in regional, global issues

He said he appreciated China's support in global non-proliferation efforts and in the verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons program on the Korean Peninsula.

"We agreed on the importance of resuming the six-party talks as soon as possible," he said.

He warned the DPRK "has a choice: it can continue down the path of confrontation and provocation that have led to less security, less prosperity and more isolation from the global community, or it can choose to become a full member of the international community, which will give a better life to its people by living up to international obligations and foregoing nuclear weapons."

The United States and China also agreed that Iran must provide assurances that its nuclear program was "peaceful and transparent," a point on which they were "unified," he said.

The two countries shared a mutual interest in the security and stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Obama.

They had agreed that more stable and peaceful relations in south Asia would prevent these countries being used as bases for terrorism.

Obama and Hu also talked about the human rights issue and the two countries agreed to open a human rights dialogue early next year.

Commitment to one-China policy reconfirmed

Obama said the United States respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China and had reaffirmed its strong commitment to a one-China policy.

The United States also applauded the steps that China's mainland and Taiwan have already taken to relax tensions and build ties across the Taiwan Straits, he said.

The Sino-US relationship went far beyond any single issue, Obama said.

"In this young century, the jobs we do, the prosperity we build, the environment we protect, the security that we seek, all these things are shared," he said.

"Given that interconnection, I do not believe that one country's success must come at the expense of another. That's why the United States welcomes China as a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations."

He said the relationship would face future disagreements and difficulties, but cooperation had resulted in both countries being more prosperous and secure.

"We've seen what's possible when we build upon our mutual interests and engage on the basis on equality and mutual respect,"he said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2009)