China’s Hu Jintao Phones Barack Obama: “Two Nations Should Respect Each Other”

BEIJING (AFP) – China and the United States should “accommodate each other’s concerns,” Chinese President Hu Jintao told US president-elect Barack Obama Saturday in a telephone conversation, state media reported.

Hu and Obama spoke on a range of issues including the current global financial turmoil, Xinhua news agency reported early Sunday, in what is thought to be the first conversation between the pair since Obama’s election victory.

“Hu pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 30 years ago, bilateral relations have generally kept developing despite setbacks,” the report said.

The report did not say how long they spoke for.

“China and the United States should respect each other and accommodate each other’s concerns, and appropriately settle sensitive issues between the two countries, particularly the Taiwan issue,” Xinhua quoted Hu as saying.

 
China’s President Hu Jintao speaks at a celebration meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing November 7, 2008. China held a meeting on Friday morning to award people who made outstanding contributions to the Shenzhou VII manned space flight, Xinhua reported.REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA)

China on Thursday urged Obama to oppose independence for Taiwan, saying that the proper handling of the issue was key to good relations between Beijing and Washington.

During Saturday’s phone conversation, Obama, who defeated his Republican rival John McCain in Tuesday’s election, said China was a “great” nation, the report quoted the Democrat as saying.

“In today’s international arena, US-China relations are relations of vital importance. The development of US-China relations is not only in the interest of both nations, but also benefits the world,” it quoted Obama as saying.