Appropriate handling of Tibet, Taiwan issues key to better US, China ties: Hu

Beijing, Apr. 3 (ANI): President Hu Jintao has reportedly told his US counterpart Barack Obama that an appropriate and sensitive handling of the Tibet and Taiwan issue is the key to improving Sino-US relations.

During a phone call on Friday, Obama also appealed to Hu for the two countries to cooperate on the Iranian nuclear issue, stressing "the importance of working together to ensure that Iran lives up to its obligations."

Both pledged to increase cooperation, a move analysts said is a fresh sign of efforts to patch up strained ties.

Answering a phone call made by Obama from Air Force One, Hu said that Sino-US relations had shown "good momentum for development" since Obama took office, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.

Hu also told Obama that the two nations should resolve trade disputes through negotiations but neither leader touched on the topic of the Chinese currency, according to remarks published on Friday.

Obama reassured Hu that the US fully adhered to the one-China policy and would continue to recognize it as China's core interest.

Obama welcomed Hu's attendance at the nuclear security summit, to be held April 12-13 in Washington, and called for more cooperation with China on international security affairs and other global challenges.

The New York Times reported that Obama spoke with Hu for about an hour, a chat that lasted so long that Air Force One had to be held for 10 minutes on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base after landing so that Obama could finish the conversation. (ANI)