1 April 2016, 08:15 GMT
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US President Barack Obama has urged China’s President Xi Jinping to negotiate maritime disputes with the neighboring countries in a peaceful manner, White House said in a press release on Friday.
"The President [Obama] urged China to address differences with its neighbors on maritime issues peacefully and in accordance with international law and emphasized the United States global interest in upholding freedom of navigation and overflight," the release stated.
Obama made the statement during a bilateral meeting with President Xi on Thursday.
China, trying to expand its maritime influence, has been involved in a number of maritime disputes with other Asia-Pacific states, particularly on the issue of the territorial claims over a number of islands located in the South China Sea.
During the bilateral talks, both leaders also reiterated their adherence to cyber commitments agreed on during Xi’s visit to Washington, DC in September 2015, and their intent to strengthen coordination in response to North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile systems.
Obama and Xi also agreed to sign the Paris climate agreement on April 22, and advance cooperation on public health initiatives, according to the White House.
