Tensions downplayed
BEIJING — Following an intense two days of talks, President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled an array of agreements on climate change, military cooperation and trade as they sought to overcome persistent tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Areas of discord still bubbled to the surface during their rare joint news conference in the heart of the Chinese capital. Obama gently pressed Xi on human rights and rejected rumors the U.S. is fueling pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, while the Chinese president repeatedly reminded his American guest his nation wants to be seen as an equal to the United States.
As he closed his first visit to China in six years, Obama said he and Xi have reached a “common understanding on how the relationship between our two countries should move forward.”
“Where we have disagreements, we will be candid about our intentions, and we will work to narrow those differences where possible,” Obama said shortly before departing for Myanmar.
Both Obama and Xi heralded a joint commitment to cut greenhouse gases, an agreement that came about after months of secret talks between officials from both countries. The pact is meant to signal to other heavy-polluting nations the U.S. and China are in sync on the need to tackle climate change in the lead-up to a high-stakes summit in Paris next year.
The two leaders also announced an agreement to have their militaries give each other more guidance about their activities in the Pacific, a step deemed necessary after U.S. and Chinese aircraft have come dangerously close in the region. In addition, Obama and Xi touted a breakthrough in trade talks to reduce tariffs on high-tech goods.
White House officials had pressed their Chinese counterparts for weeks to allow reporters to ask questions of the two leaders after they made statements to the press. The Chinese government, which keeps tight control of media in the country, agreed just hours before the event to allow a question from one reporter from each country.
However, Xi first appeared to ignore a question posed to him from an American journalist who asked about restrictions placed on U.S. news organizations operating in the country. He later suggested it was unfavorable coverage that had led to the crackdowns, saying “the party which started the problem should be the one to resolve it.”
Obama has made significant personal investments in his relationship with Xi, including a two-day summit at a California estate last year. U.S. officials saw Xi as a potentially new kind of Chinese leader, with closer ties to the U.S. than other Chinese officials — he spent time in Iowa as an exchange student — and an ease with public appearances that eluded his predecessor, Hu Jintao.
