China-US relations

Obama wraps up trip with partnership - except on the yuan

Article published on the 2009-11-18 Latest update 2009-11-18 14:14 TU

US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong at the Great Wall of China
(Credit: Reuters)

US President Barack Obama wrapped up his four-day trip to China on Wednesday by meeting Preimer Wen Jiabao, as both leaders stressed the need for partnership, not rivalry. Among the items that did not reach any fruitful conclusion was the issue of the yuan, which the White House sees as undervalued.

"Dialogue is better than confrontation and partnership is better than rivalry," said Wen in his opening remarks.

Obama brought his secretaries of state, commerce, energy and the US trade representative to China.

But Obama held the majority of his talks with President Hu Jintao, as the two leaders agreed to push for a climate change deal, as well as push North Korea to end its quest for a nuclear weapons program.

Wen went to North Korea last month, where leader Kim Jong-Il said that his country was willing to return to the table for disarmament talks.

Obama had come to China to speak on Internet freedoms, but his message was stifled by the repressive hold China maintains on the internet.

Obama did take time out to visit the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in Beijing.

 He is currently heading to South Korea for talks with President Lee Myung-Bak where talks are slated to focus on North Korea.