Obama presses China on currency, human rights

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says improved economic relations with China are good for the United States, even as he and Chinese President Hu Jintao discussed some of the more nettlesome issues confronting the two superpowers.

At a news conference today with Hu, Obama urged China to embrace greater human rights. He said the two leaders agreed to talk more on the issue.

Obama called on China to let the free market determine the value of Chinese currency, saying it remains undervalued. He says he welcomes efforts by China to better police the theft of intellectual property, a major complaint by U.S. businesses.

Obama announced major business deals that he says will increase U.S. exports to China by $45 billion. He says the deals also will help create thousands of American jobs.