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Obama addresses China youth forum China and US 'not adveraries'
(30 minutes later)
President Barack Obama is beginning his first visit to China as US leader with a town hall-style meeting with young people in Shanghai. US President Barack Obama has told China that the two countries are not predestined to be adversaries.
His arrival in China marks the latest stage of his eight-day Asian tour. President Obama made the comments during a speech in Shanghai, shortly before holding a question and answer session with Chinese students.
During the trip President Obama has affirmed his commitment to strengthen ties with the region's superpower. In the speech, he also reminded his Chinese hosts that all people, including Chinese citizens, deserved to be given basic rights.
His visit comes amid growing trade tensions, with China accusing Washington of protectionism for banning some Chinese-made products. President Obama is on a four-day visit to China.
Chinese state media outlets have asked the public to submit questions for Mr Obama in Shanghai. 'Freedom of expression'
Many of the questions urge him to clarify any plans to meet the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader whom Beijing dismisses as a "separatist", Reuters news agency reported. In his speech at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, the US president praised China's efforts in lifting millions of people out of poverty.
The BBC's Chris Hogg in Shanghai says negotiations over how and where the town hall meeting will be broadcast have lasted more than two weeks, as events of this nature are sensitive in China. He also addressed the relationship between the two nations.
A spokesman for the US Embassy in Beijing told Reuters that the town hall meeting is likely to be broadcast only on local television channels, scuppering US hopes that it would be shown nationwide on Chinese television. "We have known setbacks and challenges over the last 30 years. Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty," said President Obama.
OBAMA ASIA TOUR 1. Friday 13: Arrived in Japan2. Saturday 14: Joined Apec summit in Singapore3. Sunday 15: Had talks with Russia's President Medvedev before leaving for China4. Tuesday 17: Summit in Beijing with Chinese President Hu Jintao5. Wednesday 18: Ends tour in South Korea Apec seeks new balance of power Obama seeks to reassure Asia alliesOBAMA ASIA TOUR 1. Friday 13: Arrived in Japan2. Saturday 14: Joined Apec summit in Singapore3. Sunday 15: Had talks with Russia's President Medvedev before leaving for China4. Tuesday 17: Summit in Beijing with Chinese President Hu Jintao5. Wednesday 18: Ends tour in South Korea Apec seeks new balance of power Obama seeks to reassure Asia allies
President Obama is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Tuesday, where talks will cover economic imbalances, concerns over Iran and North Korea and the effort to tackle climate change. "But the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined, not when we consider the past," he added.
Mr Obama has also signalled that he will raise the subject of human rights concerns in Beijing, but has not mentioned specific concerns, such as Tibet. Mr Obama then turned to human rights, saying they were not unique to the United States.
"These freedoms of expression and worship, of access to information and political participation we believe are universal rights. They should be available to all people, including ethnic and religious minorities," he said
Mr Obama then began a question and answer session with students in the audience.
A few days ago, China's state-run news agency Xinhua asked internet users to send in questions they would like to ask Mr Obama.
They covered issues on economics and politics, as well as more personal questions, such as whether or not the US president's wife, Michelle, paid for her own clothes.
Presidential dinner
President Obama is due to fly to Beijing later on Monday to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao for dinner.
The two are expected to hold talks on Tuesday on issues such as trade imbalances, the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea, and the effort to tackle climate change.
The US president indicated that he would also raise concerns about human rights in China - as many human rights organisations had asked him to do.
Speaking in Tokyo earlier in the week, Mr Obama said welcomed a strong China, adding that better US ties with Beijing did not mean a weakening of relations with US allies in the region.Speaking in Tokyo earlier in the week, Mr Obama said welcomed a strong China, adding that better US ties with Beijing did not mean a weakening of relations with US allies in the region.
In an online survey on US-China relations, 80% of Chinese respondents said the United States did not want to see their country rise, the Chinese magazine Globe reported. But an online survey on US-China relations, 80% of Chinese respondents said the United States did not want to see their country rise, the Chinese magazine Globe reported.