Barack Obama/Hu Jintao
"... China is a great power. It has a long and extraordinary history. The relationship between the United States and China has become extremely constructive. Our economic relationships are very strong. And I've said publicly, and I continue to believe, that the relationship between China and the United States is not only important for the citizens of both our countries, but will help to set the stage for how the world deals with a whole host of challenges in the years to come.
"So I'm looking forward to a very productive and open conversation about not only the state of the world economy during this time of crisis, but also know we can work cooperatively together to improve peace and security for both nations and the world at large."
-- U.S. Pres. Barack Obama
"... [T]he two sides both have reached agreement on the characterization of the China-U.S. relationship in this new era and on the mechanism of the strategic economic dialogues. These results have not come easily, which deserve our both sides’ efforts to cherish.
"And as President Obama rightly said just now, a sound China-U.S. relationship is not only in the fundamental interest of our two peoples and our two countries, but also contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asian Pacific region and in the world at large."
-- PRC Pres. Hu Jintao
Date Published: 04/01/2009
Presidents Obama and Hu made these comments in advance of their April 1, 2009 meeting in London. This was the first face-to-face meeting of the two men. It preceded the G-20 summit.