Obama: 'Gaps of trust' preventing Syria cease-fire

BEIJING — President Obama said Monday that negotiations between the United States and Russia to reach a peace deal in Syria are hampered by "gaps of trust."

"We haven't yet closed the gaps in a way where we think it would actually work," Obama said after he met for 90 minutes with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Typically the tone of our meetings is candid, blunt, businesslike. This was no different."

Obama, speaking at a news conference in Hangzhou, China, at the end of the Group of 20 economic summit, said the two leaders failed to make a breakthrough for a cease-fire in the 5-year-old Syrian conflict. Obama said he instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to continue meeting with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to work toward an agreement in the coming days.

The two sides are exploring closer military ties to fight militant groups and reduce the violence but can't agree on how to implement any pact. The delay comes as a wave of bombings Monday in government-held parts of Syria killed at least 48 people, and the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

Graphics: In Syria, your friend may be your friend's enemy

Obama said he and Putin also discussed Ukraine and U.S. concerns over cybersecurity.

Those discussions took place as global leaders ended the G-20 summit Monday with a forceful endorsement of free trade.

In a joint statement, Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of Britain, Japan, Russia and other G-20 economies pledged to boost sluggish global growth by promoting innovation and to strengthen the global financial system.

The pledge recognized that economic strains are fueling political tensions around the world. “The benefits of trade and open markets must be communicated to the wider public more effectively,” the joint statement said.

Obama defended the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal he wants to get Congress to approve, despite widespread political opposition. He said the G-20 leaders also discussed unfair currency practices, corruption and global tax evasion. Xi said China would set up two new centers to deal with international tax evasion and corruption.

The summit got off to a rocky start Saturday when there was no staircase at the airport for Obama to exit his plane. The president used an alternative exit, but quarrels with Chinese officials broke out on the tarmac and at other venues over access by U.S. officials and the traveling press.

North Korea added to the drama by firing three ballistic missiles off its east coast  Monday. At about the same time, China's Xi was telling South Korean President Park Geun Hye that China opposes plans to deploy a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.

Multiple bomb blasts in Syrian cities kill at least 38

Obama downplays alleged diplomatic snub by China

Obama becomes first sitting president to visit Laos

After China, Obama arrived in Laos late Monday to attend another summit this week, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to travel to that country. He plans to push for closer economic ties with Laos and Southeast Asia, and will raise the issue of human rights abuses in the one-party communist state.

But the visit threatened to be overshadowed by comments from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte warned Obama not to question him about extrajudicial killings in his country when they meet in Laos this week, saying that if he did “son of a bitch, I will swear at you.”

Obama said he has instructed his aides to determine whether it would still be productive to hold the face-to-face meeting with Duterte. The White House later announced that the meeting was canceled, but Duterte said on Tuesday morning in a statement the meeting was postponed. He said he "regret it came across as a personal attack on the US President" and looks forward to working out differences with the president.

During the news conference in Hangzhou, Obama said his visit to Laos would be a symbolic one and that he hoped to make progress in accounting for missing U.S. servicemen from the Vietnam War. “We have deep commitments” to account for those lost during the war, Obama said.

The president was also asked about NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem to bring attention to racial injustice.

Obama said it was not an anti-American gesture and that it was clear that the San Francisco 49ers player is sincere and “cares about some real, legitimate issues.”

Onyanga-Omara reported from London.