China / U.S. Talks End on Positive Note

Their two-day summit in California over, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached agreement on at least two significant issues:  constraining North Korea's nuclear ambitions, and steps to reduce greenhouse gases -- specifically hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).  Both Presidents agreed that North Korea's brinksmanship and pursuit of nuclear weapons was unacceptable.  China is North Korea's most important ally and trading partner.  With China's booming economy, by agreeing to work on reducing HFC emissions, they can make a big impact on limiting greenhouse gases worldwide.

While the talks didn't produce any positive results on the issues of cyber hacking and trade practices, the summit's objective of having the two leaders develop a good, open working relationship was apparently achieved.

(White House photo by Pete Souza)