Obama's visit marks new start in Sino-U.S. ties, China says

Obama is to make his first visit to China from November 15-18 for meetings with President Hu Jintao which a top official said marked a fresh “historical starting point.”

“We believe this is a big event in Sino-U.S. relations. It is of particular importance for the growth of Sino-U.S. relations in a new era,” Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told reporters in a briefing on Obama's visit.

“Bilateral relations are now at a new historical starting point.”

Obama's trip however comes amid escalating tensions over trade and how to address climate change.

The two countries have been engaged in a series of tit-for-tat punitive actions over alleged unfair trade practices, with the latest coming Friday when China formally launched an investigation into possible dumping and unfair subsidies involving U.S. auto imports.

The move came after the U.S. slapped anti-dumping tariffs on some Chinese steel products Thursday.

China and the United States, the largest sources of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, also are at odds over how to apportion responsibility for climate change.

The United States is pressing China for aggressive action to limit greenhouse gas emissions, while Beijing insists that developed countries, such as the United States, should take the lead.

He reiterated China's stance on Friday but added that cooperative efforts against climate change “will be a key topic in meetings between our leaders”.

He added that several deals and agreements on such cooperation would be signed during Obama's stay in China, but gave no details.

Obama plans to stop first in Shanghai before heading to Beijing for talks with Hu.

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