Obama stresses need for China to play by trade rules

Feb 14, 2012, 17:17 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama stressed the need for Beijing to follow the same trade rules as the rest of the world as he welcomed Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping to the White House Tuesday.

Obama emphasized the growing importance of the relationship between the two powers on economic and other issues as he refocusses US attention on the Asia-Pacific region.

'We have tried to emphasize that because of China's extraordinary development over the last two decades, that with expanding power and prosperity also comes increased responsibilities,' Obama said in remarks before talks with Xi. 'We will work with China to be sure everyone is working by the same rules of the road when it comes to the world economic system.'

The US trade imbalance with China and Washington's concerns about piracy and the undervaluation of the Chinese currency were sure to feature heavily in the talks.

Xi, who is expected to ascend to the presidency in 2013, said the goal of his visit was to 'move forward the US China relationship.'

He was also holding meetings with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, was to visit the Pentagon and listen to US businessmen's complaints about the difficulty of doing business in China.

Obama also said he would raise the issue of human rights, which has been a sticking point in relations between the powers.

'On critical issues like human rights, we will continue to emphasize what we believe is the importance of recognizing the aspirations and rights of all people,' Obama said.

'And we expect that China will continue to take a growing role in world affairs, and we believe that it is critically important that the United States and China develop a strong working relationship to help to bring stability, order and security that ultimately provides a better life for both the people of the United States and the people of China.'

The visit comes amid Obama's strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, with plans to boost the US military presence there and steadily increase pressure on China to level the economic playing field.

Pressure will likely also be applied to Xi about the issues of Syria, Iran and North Korea.

Tibet activists were using the visit to pressure China and encourage US officials to do the same. On Monday, a group of protesters climbed a major bridge in the US capital to unfurl a protest banner and others had gathered outside the White House.

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