Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo had a conversation with US President Barack Obama Thursday morning at a summit over global, regional and international issues of common concern, a Chinese spokesman said.

Dai is in L'Aquila to attend the G8+G5+Egypt Summit on behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao. Hu cut short his stay in Italy due to the situation in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Ma Zhaoxu, spokesman for the Chinese government's delegation here, said the two discussed a wide range of issues, including climate change.

He also said that at the summit, President Obama asked Councilor Dai to convey his greetings and wishes to President Hu Jintao.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)