China's VP Xi Jinping to Visit White House Next Month
China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping has been scheduled for Valentine's Day political talks with President Obama.
In a White House statement released Monday, the pair were confirmed to be meeting next month for discussions about "a broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues."
Xi, 58, is in line to become the next leader of People's Republic of China in 2013, and his White House visit is also believed to be an attempt to ease tensions, according to BBC News.
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The US-China relationship has become increasingly strained due to disputes over economic and security issues. The U.S. has previously accused China of currency manipulation which includes placing false value on its yuan. By lowering the value of its currency, critics argue that China is able to benefit from corrupt trade practices which ultimately boost its economy.
China has repeatedly denied manipulating its exchange rate, and the U.S. government has long been criticized for its reluctance to retaliate arguing that American jobs continue to be threatened.
The U.S. has also accused the Chinese government of reluctance to co-operate on Iran sanctions, after U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's recent trip to China.
China has expressed concern over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, adding further tension to China-U.S. relations.
In a televised interview, U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke recently described Xi as "very personable" but said that U.S. officials "really don't know that much about him."
"We don't know how he would respond to some of these economic issues, which is why it's so important that we establish that relationship as quickly as possible," Locke said.
Xi's last visit to the U.S. took place in 1985, and he is expected to visit with Vice President Joe Biden during next month's visit.
