Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden pledged the two nations' commitment to cooperation Tuesday, ahead of talks with President Barack Obama. Biden is Xi's formal host during his visit to Washington. The two men were meeting ahead of the Oval Office discussion with President Obama. Biden said Mr. Obama and he have been determined to renew and intensify the U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthen ties in particular with China. He called the U.S.-China relationship one of the most important in the world. He said the two nations will not always see things the same way, but have very important economic and political concerns that warrant they work together.
Xi, China's next leader-in-waiting, said he hopes to engage with a broad cross section of American society during his visit and deepen the nations' friendship. He said he looks forward to an in-depth and candid exchange of views.Xi is expected to call for confidence-building measures between the two countries. 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.