U.S. President Barack Obama has begun his first trip to China, where he will discuss Washington's strategic and economic relationship with Beijing.
Mr. Obama arrived late Sunday in Shanghai, where he is to meet city leaders and university students on Monday. He then travels to Beijing for talks with Chinese leaders.
China owns more than $1 trillion in U.S. debt, making it Washington's biggest foreign lender. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday President Obama understands the U.S. has to rely less on China's funding over time.
Speaking on U.S. television Sunday, on NBC's "Meet the Press", Clinton described the countries' relationship as positive and cooperative, saying Washington wants more comprehensive engagement with China.
She said there have been positive results already in Beijing's approval of international sanctions against North Korea and its support for engaging Iran on its nuclear program.