Rancho Mirage:
US President Barack Obama and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping pledged Friday to look for a new way of cooperation as they started a weekend of talks on a slew of disputes.
Obama welcomed the Chinese president to the sprawling Sunnylands resort in sun-scorched southeastern California, the first encounter between the leaders since Xi took full power in the rising Asian power in March.
Speaking to reporters at the start of the talks, Obama said he sought "continuous and candid conversations" with China -- a goal many feel eluded him in his first term when dealing with former Chinese president Hu Jintao.
Obama voiced hope that the two countries "can forge a new model of cooperation between countries based on mutual interest and mutual respect."
Obama sought to reassure Xi that the United States is not trying to contain China, a frequent charge in Beijing as the US administration pursues a "pivot" strategy of stepping up its focus on Asia.
"It is in the United States' interests that China continues on the path of success because we believe that a peaceful and stable and prosperous China is not only good for the Chinese, but also good for the world and the United States," Obama said.
Obama voiced hope that the two countries would "work together" on issues including cyber security, which has soared to the top of the agenda amid charges of a vast hacking campaign by China against the United States.
He also pledged that the United States would raise human rights, a longstanding concern of US lawmakers concerned about China's harsh treatment of democracy advocates, religious groups and ethnic minorities.
"History shows that upholding universal rights will ultimately be a key to success and prosperity and justice," Obama said.
For his part, Xi reiterated his view that the "vast Pacific Ocean has enough space for two large countries like the United States and China."
"We're meeting here today to chart the future of China-US relations and draw a blueprint for this relationship," he said.
Obama and Xi had not been scheduled to meet until a Group of 20 summit in Russia in September, but both sides decided to hold a less formal and more free-flowing meeting to try to develop a chemistry between the leaders.
US experts believe that Xi, the son of one of communist China's founding revolutionaries, has rapidly consolidated power and may prove to be a more dynamic leader than his notoriously stiff predecessor Hu Jintao.
Obama welcomed the Chinese president to the sprawling Sunnylands resort in sun-scorched southeastern California, the first encounter between the leaders since Xi took full power in the rising Asian power in March.
Speaking to reporters at the start of the talks, Obama said he sought "continuous and candid conversations" with China -- a goal many feel eluded him in his first term when dealing with former Chinese president Hu Jintao.
Obama voiced hope that the two countries "can forge a new model of cooperation between countries based on mutual interest and mutual respect."
Obama sought to reassure Xi that the United States is not trying to contain China, a frequent charge in Beijing as the US administration pursues a "pivot" strategy of stepping up its focus on Asia.
"It is in the United States' interests that China continues on the path of success because we believe that a peaceful and stable and prosperous China is not only good for the Chinese, but also good for the world and the United States," Obama said.
Obama voiced hope that the two countries would "work together" on issues including cyber security, which has soared to the top of the agenda amid charges of a vast hacking campaign by China against the United States.
He also pledged that the United States would raise human rights, a longstanding concern of US lawmakers concerned about China's harsh treatment of democracy advocates, religious groups and ethnic minorities.
"History shows that upholding universal rights will ultimately be a key to success and prosperity and justice," Obama said.
For his part, Xi reiterated his view that the "vast Pacific Ocean has enough space for two large countries like the United States and China."
"We're meeting here today to chart the future of China-US relations and draw a blueprint for this relationship," he said.
Obama and Xi had not been scheduled to meet until a Group of 20 summit in Russia in September, but both sides decided to hold a less formal and more free-flowing meeting to try to develop a chemistry between the leaders.
US experts believe that Xi, the son of one of communist China's founding revolutionaries, has rapidly consolidated power and may prove to be a more dynamic leader than his notoriously stiff predecessor Hu Jintao.
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