Given Japan's strategic dependence on the US, Washington can exert pressure on its traditional ally to moderate its behavior, Shi said.

"Setting up a partnership between the US and China in the Asia-Pacific is a laudable goal we should strive for, but it will be difficult to achieve," said Bonnie Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

Friday's meeting was the second in three months between Xi and Obama after their talks at the Annenberg estate in California in June.

Syrian issue

Xi underscored the necessity of simultaneously sticking to two principles — adhering to international laws and the basic norms of international relations, and banning the use of any chemical weapons.

"A political solution is the only right way out for the Syrian crisis, and a military strike cannot solve the problem from the root," Xi said.

China "expects the countries involved to think twice before taking action", Xi said, referring to the US plan to launch military strikes on Syria.

The international community should push for the opening of the second Geneva conference on Syria at an early date and initiate the political transition process, Xi said.

Qu Xing, president of the China Institute of International Studies, said "the possibility of Washington using armed force is still large" despite the uncertainty of whether Obama will obtain congressional authorization.

Obama said he is willing to keep in communication with China on the issue.

Zhao Yanrong contributed to this story.