Xi's meeting with Obama 'eases tensions'

90-minute discussion between leaders has diffused difficulties arising from issues related to South China Sea, foreign minister says

President Xi Jinping's meeting with US President Barack Obama has helped to alleviate tensions at a time when some countries have been playing up the South China Sea issue, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

The meeting, which took place on Thursday on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, was closely watched by the international community because many countries are pessimistic about the current state of Sino-US ties, he said.