Ensure level-playing field for firms in China: Obama tells Xi

US President Barack Obama has pressed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to ensure a level- playing field for American firms to compete fairly in China and to peacefully address differences with its neighbours on maritime issues.
"The President emphasized the importance of establishing a level-playing field for all firms to compete fairly in China," the White House said today, a day after Obama and Xi met on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit here.
The two largest economies are at loggerheads over several issues, including preventing the theft of trade secrets and opening the Chinese market more broadly to American firms.

As trade has ballooned between China and the US in recent years, tensions have grown. China exports far more goods to the US than it imports, resulting in a Chinese trade surplus.
China is increasingly dumping its steel on international markets, sometimes incurring losses, and threatening a bitter trade-war with the US.
On upholding the freedom of navigation in international waters, Obama asked China to address differences with its neighbours on maritime issues peacefully and in accordance with the international law.

He also emphasized the US global interest in upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, the White House said.
Obama reiterated America's unwavering support for upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms in China.

On cyber issues, both leaders reaffirmed the cyber commitments announced during President Xi's September 2015 state visit and agreed to ensure their full implementation.
"The President reiterated that we will continue to monitor whether Chinese actions demonstrate their adherence to the commitments," the White House said.
Obama and Xi committed to continue narrowing differences and expanding cooperation on regional and global challenges.
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They also agreed to galvanize global action to phase down hydrofluorocarbons under the Montreal Protocol and to work to secure an accord on a global market-based measure to address greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation.

Obama commended their strengthening bilateral cooperation on nuclear security issues, including the establishment of China's nuclear security Center of Excellence and its commitment to reactor conversions, the White House said.
"Both leaders committed to advance cooperation on development and public health initiatives, and to strengthen coordination in addressing the shared threat presented by North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile systems," it said.
They affirmed their commitment to achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the full implementation of the latest UN Security Council Resolution to impose additional legally binding sanctions on North Korea.