Washington (CNN) -- Top Democratic and Republican congressional leaders met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday, using the occasion to raise strong concerns about Beijing's commitment to human rights and economic issues such as the protection of intellectual property. Hu met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, among others. Neither man attended Wednesday night's White House state dinner in honor of the Chinese leader. Earlier in the week, Reid called Hu a "dictator" -- words that were later recanted by his spokesman. Boehner noted that the concerns relating to tensions on the Korean peninsula also were raised during Thursday's talks.
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NEW: Congressional leaders discuss human rights and economic issues with Hu Jintao
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The session follows Hu's meeting Wednesday with President Obama
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The White House announces $45 billion in new U.S. business contracts with China
@placeholder conceded that key differences remain over economic policy, but he promised that Beijing would continue making attempts to resolve those differences.