Obama says US doesn't seek to 'contain' China

Pledging greater engagement with Asia, President Barack Obama today said the US did not seek to "contain" a rising China even as he asserted that it would not be "cowed" by North Korea's defiance over its nuclear issue.

On the eve of his maiden trip to Beijing as President, Obama, in a major policy speech on Asia here, refrained from mentioning Tibet while Taiwan, which China claims as its province, was also off his radar. India too got skipped.

"The United States does not seek to contain China, nor does a deeper relationship with China mean a weakening of our bilateral alliances," Obama, who is here as part of his four-nation Asia tour, said in a 40-minute address before a 1500-strong audience at the Suntory Hall.

The rise of a strong, prosperous China can be a source of strength for the community of nations, he said.

About his visit to China, Obama said that "in Beijing and beyond, we will work to deepen our Strategic and Economic Dialogue, and improve communication between our militaries." However, he warned that "we will not agree on every issue, and the United States will never waver in speaking up for the fundamental values that we hold dear – and that includes respect for the religion and cultures of all people."

On North Korea, Obama said the US and others will not "be cowed" by North Korea's threats to step up its nuclear programme and will advance the goal of securing all of the world's "vulnerable" atomic material within four years.