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US President Obama meets China PM Wen Jiabao at summit Obama discusses South China Sea dispute with Wen Jiabao
(about 7 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has held brief talks with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of an East Asia summit in Indonesia. US President Barack Obama has discussed economic issues and the disputed South China Sea during brief talks with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
They met on the sidelines of an East Asia summit in Indonesia.
The meeting came after spats between Beijing and Washington over trade, currency and territorial rights in the South China Sea.The meeting came after spats between Beijing and Washington over trade, currency and territorial rights in the South China Sea.
Mr Obama has focused on boosting US influence in the region at a time when China wields growing power.Mr Obama has focused on boosting US influence in the region at a time when China wields growing power.
This is the last engagement of Mr Obama's nine-day visit to Asia. Mr Obama has been on a nine-day visit to Asia. The East Asia summit is the last engagement.
It follows a meeting of leaders of South East Asian nations who will attend along with others including India, China, the US and Russia. The summit gathers leaders of South East Asian nations, India, China, the US and Russia.
Oil and gasOil and gas
No formal statements were expected after the meeting, but correspondents say the talks were likely to be dominated by trade, and maritime security - particularly the contentious issue of the South China Sea. US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said the "informal meeting" between Mr Obama and Mr Wen focused mainly on economic issues.
The South China Sea holds potentially vast reserves of oil and gas, and is an important shipping route. He said the two leaders discussed "specific issues around business practices" as well as Chinese currency controls.
They also spoke about the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
The sea holds potentially vast reserves of oil and gas, and is an important shipping route.
China lays claim to the whole of the sea, while other South East Asian nations claim parts of it.China lays claim to the whole of the sea, while other South East Asian nations claim parts of it.
On Friday, in comments which appeared directed at the US, China warned "external forces" not to get involved in the maritime dispute. Mr Donilon said the United States did not have a view on sovereignty, but wanted to see the shipping lane remain open.
"We don't have a claim, we don't take sides in the claims, but we do as a global maritime power have an interest in seeing these principles applied broadly," he said.
On Friday, in comments which appeared directed at the US, Mr Wen warned "external forces" not to get involved in the maritime dispute.
The Philippines had asked the US to step in to help solve the row, but Asean secretary general Surin Pitsuwan said that Asean and China could resolve the issue peacefully by themselves.The Philippines had asked the US to step in to help solve the row, but Asean secretary general Surin Pitsuwan said that Asean and China could resolve the issue peacefully by themselves.
On Thursday, Mr Obama pledged increased US engagement with the region and a strong military presence, including the deployment of US Marines to Australia.On Thursday, Mr Obama pledged increased US engagement with the region and a strong military presence, including the deployment of US Marines to Australia.
Mr Donilon said the United States had been "quite direct with the Chinese about our strategy", making clear that Washington was determined to play an active presence in the region to help ensure its stability and peace.
Official Chinese media was sceptical on Saturday, saying the US risked losing friends among Asian Pacific nations.
"If the United States sticks to its Cold War mentality and continues to engage with Asian nations in a self-assertive way, it is doomed to incur repulsion in the region," the news agency said.