World News

Obama, Hu trade barbs, promise cooperation

U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao promised a determined, joint effort to tackle climate change, nuclear disarmament and other global troubles, yet emerged from their first full-blown summit Nov. 17 with scant progress beyond goodwill.

After two hours of talks and a separate meeting over dinner the night before, the presidents spoke of moving beyond the divisiveness over human rights, trade and military tensions that have bedeviled relations in past decades.

With each of the big issues — from global warming to the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs — persistent differences appeared in the form of indirect barbs during the joint appearance.

The mixture of promises and lasting differences underscored how intertwined the superpower United States and rising power China are, and the difficult task Obama faces with an authoritarian, sometimes testy Beijing. (AP)

Shukan ST: NOVEMBER 27, 2009

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