Obama Discusses Iran, North Korea With China Delegation
By KUNA
US President Barack Obama and officials met in the Oval Office with China’s special representatives to the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo, the White House announced.
They exchanged views on economic, security and other issues of importance to both countries, including Iran and North Korea, the announcement released late on Monday said.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to building a cooperative partnership that is comprehensive in scope, cooperative in nature, and yields positive achievements that benefit our people,” it said.
“They agreed that concrete actions by both sides are needed to build such a partnership.”
Obama encouraged China to implement policies that support sustained and balanced global growth as well as a more balanced bilateral economic relationship, the statement said.
“They also discussed ways to advance our common nonproliferation objectives, including working together to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program, to meet its international commitments and to avoid destabilizing behavior,” it said.
“The President underscored his preference for a diplomatic solution to both challenges.” Obama raised U.S. concerns about the human rights situation in China, and underscored his support for the universal rights of freedom of expression and worship, and of access to information and political participation, the statement said.
