U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao emerged from hours of intense talks Nov. 17 determined to marshal their combined clout on crucial issues but still showing divisions over economic, security and human rights issues that have long bedeviled the two powers.

Chinese President Hu Jintao welcomes U.S. President Barack Obama, on his first offcial visit to China during his first tour of Asia, to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17. AP PHOTO

"The relationship between our two nations goes far beyond any single issue," Obama said in a joint appearance with Hu that followed about 2 hours of formal, closed-door conversations.

Both leaders spoke in bold terms of the growing relationship between the countries. They emphasized cooperation on the economy, climate change, energy, and to varying degrees the nuclear threats of Iran and North Korea. In a minor agreement, the two set a date for resuming a long-stalled dialogue on human rights early next year.

But differences remained, underscoring that tensions would hardly be erased in Obama's first, high-profile visit to China.

These differences came carefully muffled amid talk of cooperation, a sign both leaders acknowledge that as China continues to grow in power it and the United States must find ways to work together to avoid conflict.

Obama said China has helped the United States pull out of the worst recession in a generation.

Obama came to China seeking help with an array of global troubles. He and Hu sought to strike a balance between trading partners and competitors.

Obama spoke at length about their joint interests, saying, "I do not believe that one country's success must come at the expense of another."