President Barack Obama said in Shanghai on Monday the United States would continue to fully support the one-China policy, and would be very pleased to see the improving cross-strait relationship.

US President Barack Obama delivers a speech at a dialogue with Chinese youth at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum during his four-day state visit to China, Nov. 16, 2009.[Pei Xin/Xinhua]

"I have been clear in the past the United States supports a one-China policy. We do not want to change that policy or approach," he said during a dialogue with Chinese youth in the nation's economic hub Shanghai.

"I am very pleased with the reduction of tensions and improvement of the cross-strait relations," he said.

He noted it was his "deep desire and hope" that he would continue to see great improvement between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in resolving issues.

Economic and commercial ties were helping to lower a lot of tensions, he said.

He said as some people looked towards the past, he preferred to look towards the future.

Obama arrived in Shanghai late on Sunday and met city officials Monday morning before his meeting with young Chinese.