Obama, Hu Show Cooperation But Divisions Remain

JENNIFER LOVEN

BEIJING (AP) — President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao emerged from hours of intense talks Tuesday determined to marshal their combined clout on crucial issues, but still showing divisions over economic, security and human rights issues that have long bedeviled the two powers.

"The relationship between our two nations goes far beyond any single issue," Obama said in a joint appearance with Hu that followed about 2½ hours of formal, closed-door conversations.

Both leaders spoke in bold terms of the growing relationship between the countries. They emphasized cooperation on the economy, climate change, energy and to varying degrees the nuclear threats of Iran and North Korea. In a minor agreement, the two set a date for resuming a long-stalled dialogue on human rights early next year.

But differences remained, underscoring that tensions would hardly be erased in Obama's first, high-profile visit to China.

Hu put in a barb about recent U.S. levies on imports of Chinese-made tires and steal, calling for a stronger joint stand against protectionism. Obama reiterated that human rights were universal and need to be respected by all.