WASHINGTON- During talks in Washington with top Chinese officials, Obama "raised ongoing US concerns about China's cyber and maritime behavior, and he urged China to take concrete steps to lower tensions," the White House said.

American officials have voiced deep concerns about both issues at the annual strategic and economic dialogue aimed at setting guidelines to steer future ties between the world's two leading economies.

Ties have strained over US accusations of cyber espionage and this week's talks come after revelations of huge breaches of US government computer networks at the Office of Personnel Management.

Washington has also voiced concerns about China's territorial claims to much of the South and East China Seas, calling on Beijing to resolve the issue peacefully with its neighbors.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who hosted the talks along with Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, said cyber hacking raised questions about security and "frankly harmed American businesses." But he said the issue was raised in an "honest discussion without accusations or finger-pointing, about the problem of cyber theft and whether or not it was sanctioned by government."

While Washington has repeatedly voiced deep concerns about rights and freedoms in the single-party country, Yang said that "in advancing human rights China's achievements are there for all to see."

bbabo.Net