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Obama says looking forward to China visit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-09 23:51

L'AQUILA: US President Barack Obama said on Thursday that he was looking forward to visiting China later this year.

US President Barack Obama (R) and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stand on the platform for a group photo during the G8 summit in L'Aquila Italy July 9, 2009. [Agencies]

Obama made the remarks when meeting with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who was here to attend the leaders' meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) and five leading emerging economies (G5) on behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

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During the meeting, Obama said the US side attached importance to the US-China relations, and he hoped that the upcoming US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue could generate fruitful results, according to a press release issued by the Chinese delegation.

It is important for the United States and China to enhance cooperation on major international issues, Obama said, adding that it benefits both countries and both people.

The two also exchanged views on bilateral relations and other major international and regional issues, said the press release.

Dai conveyed Hu's greetings to Obama while Obama asked Dai to pass on his greetings and good wishes to Hu.

Hu cut short his stay in Italy and skipped the G8 meeting due to the situation in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He returned to Beijing Wednesday.