Amid strains, Obama puts bright face on China ties

Source: AP-Excite

By JOSH LEDERMAN

BEIJING (AP) — Putting a bright face on the future of U.S. ties to China, President Barack Obama announced Monday that the two countries would start granting visas to each other's citizens valid for up to 10 years. Yet thorny issues like human rights and trade lurked just under the surface, reflecting the tough road ahead for the two economic powers as Obama began a weeklong trip to the region.

Obama, addressing Asian business leaders at a high-level summit, sought to dispel the notion that America's interest in Asia should be a cause of concern for China's leaders. Beijing has viewed Obama's engagement here with trepidation out of concern the U.S. wants to limit China's rise, but Obama insisted that "one country's prosperity doesn't have to come at the expense of the other."

"We want China to do well," Obama said. "We compete for business, but we also seek to cooperate on a broad range of challenges and shared opportunities."

Under the visa agreement, U.S. and Chinese citizens will be able to obtain business and short-term tourist visas valid for 10 years, up from one year currently. Student and cultural exchange visas will be made valid for five years rather than just one year, Obama said.

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U.S. President Barack Obama, right, and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit, Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)


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