LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - While Beijing's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that "healthy and stable" relations remains in the "fundamental interests" of both countries, both have often sparred over trade and currency issues as well as over Southeast Asian territorial disputes in the western Pacific.

Afghan residents say they want President Obama to prioritize peace initiatives in Afghanistan as well as invest in the country's long-term infrastructure and national security needs.

"He should be looking at security and stability in Afghanistan," one Afghan polled by Voice of America said. "There is a growing poverty in the country and everyone including workers, businessmen and even the government are concerned about 2014, because they think Afghanistan will be abandoned once again following the withdrawal of foreign troops."

Deputy Chairman of the African Union, Erastus Mwencha says that Africa is not looking for "anything extraordinary" during Mr. Obama's new four-year term, other than new economic growth.

"We are not looking for anything extraordinary for his second term. We have got an agenda (which is) first of all to secure development for the continent, and we want also to make sure we also see favorable environmental and economic relations (that) encourages trade, investment and ... cooperation,"' Mwencha said.

Sworn in this past weekend in a private ceremony at the White House, with a public inaugural Monday on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, President Obama told a group of supporters that the inauguration is a celebration of the country and its ideals.
 
"What we are celebrating is not the election or swearing-in of a president; what we are doing is celebrating each other and celebrating this incredible nation that we call home. And after we celebrate, let's make sure to work as hard as we can to pass on an America that is worthy not only of our past, but also of our future," he said.

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