Chinese official affirms China-US ties under Obama

BEIJING — A top Chinese diplomat says relations with the United States have gotten off to an excellent start under President Barack Obama.

Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei's remarks to reporters on Monday sets a positive tone for an upcoming meeting between Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of an April 2 summit in London of members of the Group of 20 industrialized nations.

Ties between Washington and Beijing were roiled earlier this month by a confrontation between Chinese boats and a U.S. Navy surveillance ship off China's southeastern coast.

He said the sides would discuss the global economic crisis, bilateral ties, and regional and global issues such as plans by North Korea to launch missile and Iran's nuclear program.