Chinese President Hu Jintao has pledged to US President George W Bush that China will make its currency more flexible and take other steps to reduce a huge trade surplus with the United States.
After a pomp-filled White House welcoming ceremony today, the two leaders held less than an hour of talks.
Both said their bilateral relationship had matured to the point where they could discuss differences openly.
However, Mr Bush did not appear to have persuaded China to allow tougher steps within the United Nations Security Council to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions. He said he would 'continue to strategise' on the issue with Mr Hu.
Mr Bush also asked China to lean more heavily on North Korea to give up nuclear weapons.
President Hu's arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn was briefly disrupted by a Chinese woman in the press section who began shouting anti-Chinese slogans and was led away by a uniformed guard.
'President Hu, your days are numbered. President Bush, make him stop persecuting Falun Gong,' she yelled, referring to the spiritual meditation movement that is banned in China.
The Chinese leader's visit drew hundreds of protesters, from the yellow-clad Falun Gong disciples to Taiwanese nationalists waving green flags and Tibetan youth groups.
