Bali, Nov: US President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held an unscheduled meeting here today in the backdrop of increasing tension between the two countries over territorial rights in the South China Sea, trade and currency.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 6th East Asia Summit in which the US is participating for the first time. Earlier last night, they had a brief encounter during the gala dinner hosted by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyuno as host of the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. Mr Obama is today winding up nine-day Asia-Pacific tour during which he has sought to re-assert his country’s role as aPacific power with an increased US military presence in Australia, and stronger trade and strategic ties with countries of the Asia-pacific region. These developments have evoked unfavourable reaction from China.