Shanghai, China, November 16, SPA -- US President Barack Obama chatted with Chinesestudents in Shanghai on Monday as he began his first ever visit toChina. Obama had solicited hundreds of questions for Monday"s "town hall"question-and-answer session with some 500 selected students at theShanghai Museum of Science and Technology, US officials said. The US president made an opening speech before taking thequestions, most of which were submitted via the internet, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". Obama said he wanted an "open dialogue" with China and pointed toclose cooperation in trade, energy, climate change, regionalsecurity, arms control and science. "Today we have a positive, constructive and comprehensiverelationship," he said. Obama was scheduled to travel on to Beijing on Monday afternoonfor meetings with President Hu Jintao and other Chinese officials. He said all of the issues mentioned in his speech in Shanghaiwould be discussed with Hu. --SPA 11:10 LOCAL TIME 08:10 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/719460