US President Barack Obama on Monday said the relationship between America and China will shape the 21st century as their ability to partner is a "prerequisite for progress" on many of the most pressing global challenges.
"We cannot predict with certainty what the future will bring, but we can be certain about the issues that will define our times. And we also know this: the relationship between the US and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world," he said.
"That reality must underpin our partnership. That is the responsibility we bear," he said in his remarks to the two-day US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue that began on Monday.
The US side is represented by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in the crucial meeting. The Chinese delegation -- comprising of more than 150 officials -- is led by State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang Qishan.
"I believe that we are poised to make steady progress on some of the most important issues of our times," Obama said in his address. His confidence is rooted in the fact that the United States and China share mutual interests, Obama said.
"If we advance those interests through cooperation, our people will benefit, and the world will be better off -- because our ability to partner with each other is a prerequisite for progress on many of the most pressing global challenges," he said.
