Shanghai  - US President Barack Obama chatted with Chinese students in Shanghai on Monday as he began his first ever visit to China.

Obama had solicited hundreds of questions for Monday's "town hall" question-and-answer session with some 500 selected students at the Shanghai Museum of Science and Technology, US officials said.

The US president made an opening speech before taking the questions, most of which were submitted via the internet.

Obama said he wanted an "open dialogue" with China and pointed to close cooperation in trade, energy, climate change, regional security, arms control and science.

"Today we have a positive, constructive and comprehensive relationship," he said.

Some of the event was broadcast live by media accessible in mainland China, including the Hong Kong-based satellite broadcaster Phoenix TV.

Obama was scheduled to travel on to Beijing on Monday afternoon for meetings with President Hu Jintao and Chinese leaders.

He said all of the issues mentioned in his speech in Shanghai would be discussed with Hu. (dpa)