U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart managed to align themselves on some issues on Tuesday, but the two leaders were still separated by a large gulf on some key points.
Obama and President Hu Jintao agreed on restarting the collapsed six-nation talks designed to disarm North Korea's nuclear program.
They also discussed tensions with Iran, working together on economic, energy and climate change issues, and agreed to resume human rights talks next year.
"The relationship between our two nations goes far beyond any single issue," Obama said in a joint appearance with Hu that followed more than two hours of closed-door discussions. The trip is Obama's first visit to China since he became president.
But there are still longstanding differences of opinion between the two nations that won't be erased by one high-profile visit from Obama.
Hu made it clear Beijing is not happy with new U.S. levies on imported Chinese tires and steel and called for a stronger shared position on anti-protectionism.
Hu also called on Washington to support Chinese "core interests," words interpreted as a veiled call for the U.S. to stand in lockstep with Beijing on the controversial issues of Taiwan and the Dalai Lama.
Obama, for his part, suggested China needs to do more to uphold human rights -- an always-sensitive subject in China.
Tuesday's news conference was televised, unlike one on Monday where media coverage was cancelled at the last minute. Mark MacKinnon of The Globe and Mail said Obama's message wasn't appreciated by all who heard it.
"I think some of Mr. Obama's remarks today won't go over too well," he told CTV's Canada AM.
"He again raised issues like the need for greater rights and freedoms and suggested the Chinese leadership should meet with the Dalai Lama, who is the Nobel Peace Prize winner but whom Beijing considers to be a dangerous separatist."
But the outstanding differences seemed lower on the priority list for both leaders. Both Obama and Hu touted a new era of co-operation and seemed to acknowledge the vital economic role they can play for each other.
"I do not believe that one country's success must come at the expense of another," Obama said.
The two leaders seemed to have agreed upon talking points, using the words "positive, co-operative and comprehensive" to describe relations.
Obama also said Tuesday that he and Hu both hope to "rally the world" next month in Copenhagen, Denmark during a major climate change summit.
Obama said he hopes for an agreement that has "immediate operational effect," not just a political declaration. Other leaders have downplayed expectations, saying a formal climate change agreement is unlikely to result from the summit.
With files from The Associated Press
