WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama told China's new ambassador Washington wanted to "further develop" a positive relationship with China, the White House said in a statement on Monday.

"The president also stressed the need for the United States and China to work together and with the international community on critical global issues including nonproliferation and pursuing sustained and balanced global growth," said the statement issued by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is expected to announce by Wednesday its updated plan for oil and natural gas drilling in U.S. waters, including whether to allow exploration for the first time along the U.S. East Coast.

The plan could pave the way for a significant new domestic source of energy, helping to reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports and boost supplies of natural gas used to displace coal in power plants as the country works to reduce emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases.