Chinese President Hu Jintao told US President Barack Obama their two nations should defuse economic strains through negotiations, but neither leader touched on the yuan dispute in remarks published on Friday.

Hu made the conciliatory comments in an hour-long talk with Obama that also covered the Iran nuclear dispute and China's demands over Tibet and Taiwan, two areas that recently flared as sore-spots in US-China relations.

The top-level talk capped a week of easing tensions between the two big powers.

China said on Thursday that Hu would attend a summit in Washington on nuclear security later this month and diplomats said Beijing had agreed to join in talks with Western powers about a fresh round of UN sanctions against Iran.

"President Obama underscored the importance of working together to ensure that Iran lives up to its international obligations," the White House said in a statement after the telephone call, on Thursday Washington time, which was Friday in Beijing.

"He also emphasised the importance of the United States and China along with other major economies implementing the G20 commitments designed to produce balanced and sustainable growth."    

Chinese media reports of the conversation did not mention Iran, instead touching on Hu's desire for talks to resolve trade spats, the importance of healthy ties between the two nations, and stressing Beijing's sensitivity about Tibet and Taiwan.

"Both China and the United States face the task of boosting the economic recovery and maintaining stable economic development," Chinese state television quoted Hu saying.

"I hope that the two sides can well address economic and trade problems via equal consultations and contribute to the broader goal of China and US trade and economic cooperation."    

The potentially touchy issue of China's currency, the yuan, did not appear in either country's public account of the chat. But those accounts may not have covered all of their discussion.   

The nuclear summit will open days before the US Treasury is due to release a report on whether China is distorting its currency exchange rate to boost its exports.    

Domestic US political pressure has been building on the Obama administration to label China a "currency manipulator". But if it does the slap would come just as ties are improving, and at a time when Washington is seeking help on diplomatic issues such its drive for new sanctions on Iran. - Reuters