Chinese president engages in bilateral meetings before nuclear summit

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao engaged in several bilateral meetings with leaders of states Monday shortly after his arrival here for the Nuclear Security Summit.

During a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, the first between the two since the Obama's China tour last November, Hu said the sound and stable development of China-U.S. economic and trade ties is good for China, for the United States and for the world economic development.

Both countries should properly solve their economic and trade rifts through consultations on an equal footing, Hu said.

On the Iran nuclear issue, Hu said China hopes various parties will continue to step up diplomatic efforts and actively seek effective ways to resolve it through dialogue and negotiations.

China and the United States have the same overall goal on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Chinese president said.

China stands ready to maintain consultation and coordination with the United States and other parties within the 5-plus-1 mechanism, and in the United Nations and through other channels, he added.

The 5-plus-1 mechanism involves the permanent UN Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.

Hu also stated China's principled position on the Iran nuclear issue, saying China is always committed to upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East.

During a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych, Hu discussed with Yanukovych about further development of bilateral ties.

This was the first meeting between Hu and Yanukovych after the Ukrainian president took office in February.

Hu said he was delighted to meet in Washington with Yanukovych, who has always attached great importance in building friendship with China.

The Chinese president spoke highly of the contributions made by Yanukovych in boosting the relations between China and Ukraine.

To further develop Sino-Ukrainian relations, the Chinese leader urged the two sides to carry out more high-level exchanges, build political mutual trust, boost pragmatic cooperation, further multilateral cooperation and strengthen coordination, promote technological cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Yanukovych, for his part, said Ukraine now had entered a brand new era for development, and so do the Ukraine-China relations.

Ukraine stands ready to work with China to promote high-level contacts and further cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, aviation and infrastructure construction so as to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two peoples and further boost bilateral ties, Yanukovych said.

During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Hu appreciated Hatoyama's efforts to boost the friendly relations between China and Japan and his contributions in this regard since he took office.

To boost the development of China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, Hu laid out a four-point proposal: keeping high-level exchanges, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and enhancing cooperation in the process of Asia's integration.

The bilateral meetings with the U.S., Ukrainian and Japanese leaders were the first group of a series of meetings on the Chinese president's schedule on the sidelines of the April 12-13 Nuclear Security Summit, which mainly discusses prevention of acts of nuclear terrorism.

The White House said leaders or their representatives from 47 countries as well as the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union would participate in the summit.