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    February 14, 2012

China's Xi to Meet with Obama, Biden

   VOA News
   Demonstrators line up to welcome the arrival of Chinese Vice President
   Xi Jinping, in Washington, February 13, 2012.
   Photo: AP
   Demonstrators line up to welcome the arrival of Chinese Vice President
   Xi Jinping, in Washington, February 13, 2012.

   Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping meets Tuesday with President Barack
   Obama at the White House, where he is expected to call for
   confidence-building measures between the two countries.
   China's next leader-in-waiting will begin his day with two hours of
   talks with his formal host, Vice President Joe Biden, followed by an
   Oval Office meeting with President Obama. Likely topics for discussion
   include economic irritants, mutual defense build-ups and human rights
   issues, including a series of self-immolations by Tibetan monks.
   After lunch at the State Department hosted by Vice President Biden and
   Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Xi is scheduled to visit with
   military officials at the Pentagon and then hold talks with American
   and Chinese business leaders.
   Xi arrived Monday at an air base outside Washington, where was greeted
   by senior U.S. officials. Ambassador to China Gary Locke said Xi's
   visit is a chance to discuss disputed trade and security issues.
   "This will be an opportunity for the leaders of both countries to
   really sit down and talk about our differences, but really focus on the
   common interests that both the U.S. and China have," he said.
   In a statement upon his arrival, Xi said China and the U.S. have
   "extensive common interests," and that he hopes his visit can help
   improve bilateral relations.
   Xi later said at a meeting with several former senior U.S. officials
   that he hopes the U.S. can view China in an "objective and rational
   way." He said Washington should adopt "concrete measures to promote
   mutual trust" between the two countries.
   But some in the U.S. are calling for President Obama to take a hard
   line with Xi on human rights and other issues.
   As Xi arrived in Washington Monday, scores of Tibetan protesters
   marched through the city, chanting slogans against China and holding
   pictures of Tibetans who recently self-immolated in protest of Chinese
   rule.
   The head of the United States Commission on International Religious
   Freedom Leonard Leo, also urged President Obama to publicly side with
   those "peacefully seeking fundamental freedoms" in China.
   Xi's visit will also serve as an opportunity for Washington to convince
   Beijing that its "pivot" in U.S. military power towards Asia is not
   meant to contain the rise of China.
   In an interview published Monday in The Washington Post, Xi warned
   against a U.S. military build-up in Asia, even while maintaining that
   there is "ample" room in the Pacific region for both countries.
   On economic matters, Xi said China will continue to address a number of
   legitimate U.S. concerns, including protection of intellectual
   property, China's currency exchange rate, and the establishment of a
   transparent, rule-based investment environment.
   After his day of meetings in Washington Tuesday, Xi is due to travel
   Wednesday to the midwestern state of Iowa and then to California before
   returning to China on Friday.
   Xi is expected to take charge of China's ruling Communist Party later
   this year and will likely succeed Hu Jintao as Chinese president in
   2013.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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