Obama tells young people to reject calls to pull back from the world

President Barack Obama has urged young people not to "pull back" from engaging with the world in a special meeting today.

The US leader said the coming generation should reject calls for "isolationism or xenophobia" during a town hall-style meeting in Westminster.

"I'm here to implore you to reject the calls to pull back," he said.

He added: "My primary message is going to be to reject pessimism and cynicism, know that progress is possible and that problems can be solved."

His comments may be seen a veiled message to push younger voters to back the EU in camp at a coming referendum, a day after spoke out against British Brexit.

Mr Obama cited the EU as one of the institutions that had helped to being peace to Europe.

He said times of uncertainty and change lead to "calls for isolationism or xenophobia".

Mr Obama said he was given hope by the younger generations' openness to the world and difference.

"You are a generation that has seen integration and globalisation not as a threat but an opportunity," he said.

"You are a generation which sees difference of pluralism and diversity not as a curse but a great gift."