US President Barack Obama has urged Chinese President Hu Jintao to uphold human rights in his country, saying it could prove crucial to China's future success.
'The United States welcomes China's rise as a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations,' Mr Obama said today at a ceremony to welcome Mr Hu to the White House.
But straying into the contentious issue of human rights, Mr Obama added: 'History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful and the world is more just when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all people are upheld[...] including the universal rights of every human being.'
Mr Hu's four-day trip comes at a time of growing tensions between the two countries over economic and strategic concerns.
Analysts are describing the visit as the most important by a Chinese leader since Deng Xiaoping helped open bilateral ties 30 years ago.
Mr Hu will attend a formal state banquet at the White House tonight.
But in a sign of domestic political tensions whipped up by the crucial US relationship with China, the White House was yesterday forced to defend Mr Hu's invitation, and insist it would not mute US concerns on human rights in China.
‘We will continue to have difficult conversations, but necessary conversations that have to be had with China and we'll do that again tomorrow,’ spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
‘In order to make progress on certain issues you've seen the two countries work together, despite, again, continuing to have differences on things like continued economic growth and human rights.’
The new Republican speaker of the House of Representatives declined an invitation to the event, possibly making a point about human rights violations. John Boehner will, however, formally meet Mr Hu on Capitol Hill tomorrow.
