LOS CABOS, Mexico—President Barack Obama says he hopes he and President Hu Jintao of China can find a "cooperative approach" to end the bloodshed in Syria. Obama was meeting with Hu on the sidelines of a G20 summit.

Obama's session with Hu followed one Monday with President Vladimir Putin of Russia where Syria was a leading subject.

China and Russia have close ties to Syria and have vetoed two United Nations resolutions that mentioned the threat of sanctions against the regime of President Bashar Assad. China and Russia, however, did support an observer mission in Syria and a six-point plan by special envoy Kofi Annan.

Hu, standing with Obama at the start of their meeting, says China will work to "appropriately handle" disagreements and sensitive issues. Hu did not mention Syria specifically.