The leaders of China and Japan have met for formal talks after more than two years of severe tension over a territorial dispute.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Beijing.
Their first meeting included a public handshake with little sign of warmth.
In a speech to Apec, President Obama has meanwhile announced big changes to visa arrangements with China.
Multiple entry short-term visas for businessmen and tourists will be extended to 10 years - up from one year.
Those for students rise from one year to five.
Mr Obama also stressed the importance of ties between China and the US, saying "the US welcomes the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China."
His comments come amid underlying tension between the US and China over Beijing's growing regional influence.
After two years of Chinese animosity towards Japan's new prime minister, President Xi has finally relented.
Today's face-to-face meeting with Shinzo Abe is important progress in relations between the world's second and third largest economies.
But the underlying disagreements over territory and history remain as bitter as ever. And even Mr Xi's body language at today's meeting was calculatedly icy.
During the handshake he did not smile or respond to Mr Abe's attempt at conversation.
For all the fireworks and group photographs, this summit brings together neighbours with different worldviews at a difficult moment in history.
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