Obama Meets Chinese Prime Minister

China's Premier Wen Jiabao (left) and U.S. President Barack Obama at the UN building on September 23

President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have met amid rising tensions over Beijing's currency policy and a showdown between China and with Japan.

Wen said he came to the United States in a "spirit of cooperation" and said the United States and China could work together on financial and economic issues.

Obama, meanwhile, praised the U.S.-China strategic dialogue and noted China's efforts to stabilize the global economy after the worst economic crisis in decades.

Obama had warned Beijing on September 20 that the U.S.-China economic relationship must be a "two-way street" in a further toughening of American rhetoric on currency and trade disputes.

The leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

compiled from agency reports