President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama met at the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on Thursday. The meeting is believed to have somehow eased the growing tensions between the two countries over the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters that the meeting was a much-needed opportunity to bridge differences between the the two sides over issues such as the Korean peninsula and the South China Sea. The meeting comes at a time when some countries have been playing up these controversial matters.

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Wang said the meeting on Thursday was much anticipated with the international community and media closely watching for any developments between the two sides.

All eyes on two leaders

Foreign Minister Wang said all eyes were on the two leaders' talks especially in the international community due to the prevailing negative view on US-Sino relations.

"The Americans have said that they will not take sides in the South China Sea issue, so it should not be a problem for the China-US relationship," Wang said.

Wang said the US-Sino relationship should not be dogged by historical problems between Beijing and the US allies, saying that the meeting between the two nations has reassured the international community on this matter.

Various topics

Xi and Obama discussed various topics and issues during their 90-minute talk including nuclear security cooperation, economic policies, the stability of the Korean Peninsula, maritime issues such as the South China Sea among others.

Wang said the two leaders have agreed to strengthen their relationship, bridge their differences over some important issues, respect each other's opinion, expand their common interests, and seek solutions to various issues through peaceful means.

"We are confident about the steady development of the China-US relationship this year, and that will continue smoothly into the next term (when a new president is elected in the US)," Wang said. 

TagsNuclear Security Summit, President Xi Jinping, US President Barack OBama, economic policies, Washington, Beijing, Nuclear security, international community