Beijing - US President Barack Obama held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday after saying he wanted to create "open dialogue" between the two nations.

Hu gave Obama a state welcome at Beijing's Great Hall of the People before their formal talks, with the two leaders scheduled to issue joint statements later Tuesday.

At a meeting with Chinese students in Shanghai on Monday, Obama called for "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 that opens the door to partnership on the key global issues of our time," he said.

In other comments, Obama promoted "universal rights" that were "common to all people, regardless of culture."

But he did not refer directly to China's record on human rights and democracy, amid reports that Chinese police detained dozens of prominent activists before his arrival.

Obama said all of the issues mentioned in Shanghai would be discussed with Hu and other Chinese leaders in Beijing.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Energy Secretary Steven Chu are among the US officials travelling with Obama. (dpa)