On numerous critical issues concerned with global stability and prosperity, China and the United States have a broader basis for cooperation and shoulder more important common responsibilities.

The two countries should further enhance coordination and cooperation, jointly cope with common challenges and make efforts to promote peace, security and prosperity in the world.

Jin said focusing on global issues during the meeting demonstrated the global characteristic of China-US relationship that had gone far beyond bilateral ties. Both parties were seeking more areas for cooperation, he said.

Shambaugh told Xinhua the joint statement released on Nov. 17 was an extremely positive document -- filled with countless examples of tangible Sino-American cooperation on a large range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.

Mainichi Shimbun, a major daily in Japan, reported that both parties agreed on deepening China-US relations in a new era, which symbolized the bilateral ties had entered a new phase of development.

Obama said at the press conference that the United States welcomed China as a "strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations." This gave the impression that both countries had entered a new era of cooperation on global issues, the newspaper said.

Japan's Kyodo News reported that the Chinese and US presidents agreed to cooperate on a plethora of critical issues, including climate change and nuclear non-proliferation.

Differences on issues such as human rights and trade imbalances were not obvious, which demonstrated that both sides had put intensifying bilateral ties as a priority, the news agency said.

Consolidating foundation for future development

During his talks with Obama, President Hu made five proposals on further advancing China-US relations, of which the top priority was that the two countries should continue to increase strategic mutual trust.

Trust and cooperation is the only way to deal with country-to-country relations in the new era, Hu said, proposing that both sides view the world and each other and their relations from a new perspective.

The two leaders also believed that to nurture and deepen bilateral strategic trust was essential to China-US relations in the new era. As Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said, the respect for each other's core interests is the "key" to their relations.

Fu told Xinhua China-US relations had been closely connected with a solid foundation based on common interests.

"There's no reason for the two countries to stray away from the status quo," Fu said, adding that a new China-US joint statement issued following the summit stressed the will to enhance strategic mutual trust.

French newspaper Le Figaro said China's Hu welcomed a long-term strategic relationship and Obama highlighted the great importance of the bilateral relations for the future development of both countries.

Observers said Obama's visit to China could demonstrate an upgraded foundation for bilateral relations.

This was echoed by Shambaugh, who said the meeting between the two leaders was warm and sincere, showing an increasing strategic trust between China and the United States.

Agreements between the two countries would bring more peace and stability to the Asia Pacific region as well as the rest of the world, he added.