On April 1, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in London. The two heads of state had an "extensive" exchange of views on bilateral relations and major issues of common interest and agreed to work together to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century.

Hu said China-U.S. ties have got off to a good start since Obama took office. The current international situation is undergoing complicated and profound changes, and the international financial crisis continues to spread and go deeper, he said, adding that global challenges are markedly increasing. China and the United States share more extensive common interests in tackling the financial crisis, striving to recover global economic growth, dealing with international and regional hot issues and safeguarding world peace and security, the Chinese president said. Currently China-U.S. relations are at a new starting point and facing important opportunities for development. Both sides should and can join hands to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century, he added.

Hu pointed out that the China-U.S. relationship in the new era should have the following features. First, it should be a positive relationship. He said China and the United States need to view each other from a positive perspective and push forward dialogue and cooperation with positive moves despite the differences in their social systems, historical background, cultural tradition and phases of development. Second, it should be a cooperative relationship. The two countries should work together to tackle the complicated and thorny issues facing the humanity in the 21st century to achieve mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, he said. Third, it should be a comprehensive relationship. China and the United States should deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, fighting terrorism, non-proliferation, law enforcement, energy, climate change, science and technology, education, culture and healthcare, and boost exchanges between the military of the two nations, he said. The two countries should also strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs and global issues so as to continuously enrich the strategic connotation of bilateral ties, he added.

Hu emphasized that good relations with the United States are not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, but also beneficial to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and the world at large. China is willing to work with the United States from a strategic and long-term perspective to enhance dialogue and exchanges, build up mutual trust and cooperation, respect and accommodate each other’s core interests and properly handle differences and sensitive issues. The two leaders decided to establish the mechanism of "China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues," which is a major move to push forward China-U.S. relations in the new era. He expressed the belief that with the joint efforts of the special representatives of the two heads of state, China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues will yield positive outcome.

Obama said the U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. China, as a great power, is markedly developing. The two countries not only share very close economic ties, but also have many common interests in major international and regional issues. Obama said he was glad that both sides established the mechanism of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues, expressing hope that both sides will make headway on major issues of mutual concern through increased contact and dialogue. The U.S. side was optimistic about the prospect for bilateral ties to continue developing on the existing firm basis and agreed to work with China to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship. He urged both sides to respect each other’s core interests and properly handle differences to push forward bilateral ties.

The two heads of state agreed to establish the mechanism of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues. Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo will be in charge of economic dialogue and strategic dialogue respectively as special representatives of the Chinese head of state. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Franz Geithner will be in charge of strategic dialogue and economic dialogue respectively as special representatives of the U.S. head of state. The first round of the dialogues will be held in Washington this summer. Meanwhile, both sides will continue to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and trade sector through the mechanism of the Sino-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT).

Moreover, both leaders agreed to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide range of fields, strengthen policy dialogue and pragmatic cooperation in energy, environment and climate change, and resume and expand consultation in non-proliferation as well as other security issues. The two presidents expressed welcome for expanding exchanges between the legislatures, localities, academic circles and youth of the two countries. The two leaders agreed to resume dialogue on the human rights issue at an early date, and expressed the commitment to improving and developing relations between the armed forces of the two countries.

The international financial crisis is still spreading and deepening, taking a heavy toll on the economy and people's lives in countries around the world, Hu said. Working together to tackle the crisis has become the top priority of the international community, he said. China welcomed the economic stimulus plans adopted by the U.S. side, and hoped they would take effect as soon as possible to restore financial market stability and economic growth, Hu said. Since the onset of the crisis, China and the United States have maintained effective coordination and cooperation, Hu said, adding that China will continue to enhance coordination in macroeconomic policies with the U.S. side, expand cooperation in trade and investment, push forward the reform of the international financial system, reinforce financial regulation, maintain international financial stability and restore world economic growth.

For his part, Obama said both the United States and China have benefited from their strong economic relationship, and the two countries should continue promoting trade and economic cooperation on this basis. After the outbreak of the financial crisis, China has launched massive economic stimulus plans, and similar measures were also taken by the United States, Obama said, adding that he hoped all members of the G20 group could take stimulus measures to revive world economic growth. Meanwhile, efforts should be made to replenish the resources of international financial institutions, strengthen financial regulation and reform international financial institutions, he said. Both countries should also discuss measures to stimulate world economic growth and development from a long-term perspective, he said.

Hu and Obama stressed that China and the United States, as two of the world's major economies, will work together with other countries to help revive a strong world economic growth and stabilize the international financial system so as to avoid the reoccurrence of similar grave crisis. They shared the views that the stimulus measures taken by both countries have contributed to enhancing global economic stability, and agreed that a powerful financial system is crucial for reviving the world economic growth. The two leaders also agreed to replenish the resources of international institutions to help meet the capital shortage of emerging market and developing countries and pledged to work together to this end. The two leaders expressed their firm support for global trade and investment flow that is beneficial to all, and promised to oppose protectionism and ensure their sound and stable bilateral trade ties.

Hu pointed out that mutual respect for and consideration of each other's core interests are key to ensuring a sound and stable development of Chinese-U.S. relations. The Chinese president noted that the Taiwan issue remains the most important and sensitive core issue in China-U.S. relations. As situation across the Taiwan Strait continues to improve, cross-strait relations have got on the track of peaceful development, he said. No matter how the situation across the strait evolves, China will steadfastly adhere to the one-China policy and resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence," "One China, one Taiwan" and "Two Chinas," he said. China appreciates the U.S. government's commitment to the one-China policy and the three Chinese-U.S. joint communiques, as well as its opposition to "Taiwan independence" and Taiwan's joining international organizations limited to sovereign states, Hu said. China hopes the United States will honor its commitment, properly deal with issues related to Taiwan and support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, he said. Hu also said Tibet has always been an inseparable part of China, and the Chinese government has been practicing regional autonomy in Tibet and striving to safeguard human rights and religious freedom of the people there according to laws. China is also committed to the preservation of Tibet's fine traditional culture, he added. China hopes the United States will adhere to its recognition that Tibet is an inseparable part of China's territory and its opposition to "Tibet independence," and fully understand and respect China's position in this regard, Hu said.

Obama, for his part, said the U.S. government adheres to the one-China policy and the three U.S.-China joint communiques, and this position remains unchanged. The United States welcomes and supports efforts to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait and hopes for greater progress in the relations, the U.S. president said. Tibet is a part of China, and the United States will not support "Tibet independence," Obama added.

The two leaders also pledged to keep close contact and coordination with each other, and work together to settle disputes and ease tensions that may give rise to regional and global instability. Both sides will join hands to ensure proper solutions to the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Iran, humanitarian assistance in Sudan and the situation in South Asia.

Obama has accepted an invitation from President Hu Jintao to visit China in the second half of this year.

Wang Qishan, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.