Hu holds official talks with Obama on bilateral ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting US President Barack Obama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009. [Wu Zhiyi/China Daily]

Full Video: Welcoming Ceremony for Obama

BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting US President Barack Obama started official talks in Beijing on Tuesday morning to discuss bilateral ties and global issues of mutual concern.

The official talks were held at the Great Hall of the People after a close-door meeting between the two presidents.

After a close-door meeting, President Hu said China and the United States have achieved agreements in many aspects while US President Barack Obama said that their talk is constructive and that the US and China have many shared interests.

It is their third meeting this year following one in London in April and another in New York in September.

Obama is on his first state visit to China on November 15-18 as guest of Hu. He kicked off the visit on Sunday in Shanghai.

Before their talks, President Hu hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for President Obama on Tuesday morning at the Great Hall of the People.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting US President Barack Obama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009.[Xinhua]

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet President Obama on Tuesday afternoon.

President Obama will also visit the Palace Museum, or the Forbidden City, and attend a state banquet in his honor hosted by President Hu.

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