Clinton, Chinese FM meet ahead of Obama trip

SINGAPORE (AFP) – The top US and Chinese diplomats discussed climate change, North Korea and Iran at talks here Saturday ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to China, Chinese officials said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met for about 45 minutes in Singapore on the sidelines of an annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

"The two sides exchanged views on climate change, Group of 20 (G20) nations cooperation, the nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula and Iran, and other matters," a Chinese foreign ministry statement said.

It gave no specifics on the discussions and foreign ministry officials in Singapore said they had no other details. Officials with the US delegation could not immediately be reached.

Both Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao are attending this weekend's APEC summit before both head to China for bilateral talks.

Most of the Chinese statement was devoted to stressing a joint commitment to good China-US relations, which have been testy recently amid disputes over trade and climate change.

"China-US relations face new opportunities ahead. Both sides must continue to... work to solidify the foundation of the relationship," Yang told Clinton, according to the statement.

He also said Obama's November 15-18 visit to Shanghai and Beijing would have "major significance" for bilateral relations.

"China attaches great importance to US relations and is willing to work with the United States to use President Obama's visit as a new point in relations," he said.

Both Clinton and Yang described the Sino-US relationship as "positive, cooperative and comprehensive", according to the statement.

It said Yang invited Clinton to return to China next year after her trip next week with Obama, and that she accepted.