U.S. President Barack Obama said global economic recovery, nuclear disarmament and climate change will top the agenda during his talks with the Chinese leadership as he arrived here on his maiden state visit.
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping greeted the 48-year-old leader at the airport after he flew into the Chinese capital from the eastern metropolis of Shanghai.
During his stay here, Mr. Obama will meet top Chinese leaders and discuss bilateral, international and regional issues.
He would discuss economic recovery, climate change and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons in his talks with President Hu Jintao, Mr. Obama was quoted by official Xinhua news agency as telling Chinese students during an interaction at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum earlier in the day.
Other key issues he would raise were development of clean energy and promotion of peace and security in Asia, he said.
Addressing the students, Mr. Obama said the US does not seek to contain China’s rise and he welcomed it as a “strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations.”
While making it clear that the US does “not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation,” Mr. Obama said, “but we also don’t believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation.”
“These freedoms of expression, and worship, of access to information and political participation we believe they are universal rights. They should be available to all people, including ethnic and religious minorities, whether they are in the United States, China or any nation.”
