U.S. welcomes China's Xi with pledge of candour

He will meet later with President Barack Obama, who faces the challenge of managing increasingly fractious ties with Beijing in a U.S. election year when voters' anti-China sentiment is running high.

Follow us

Outside the White House gates, about 200 anti-Beijing protesters marched and chanted slogans against China's crackdown in Tibet - an issue that U.S. officials said would figure in talks with Xi.

Chinese officials have carefully choreographed Xi's U.S. trip as a rite of passage in China's once-in-a-decade leadership transition. He is expected to become head of the ruling Communist Party later this year before taking over the presidency in March 2013.

U.S. officials hope the talks will help them gauge the priorities that will be pursued by Xi, who will succeed President Hu Jintao. Xi's views remain largely opaque to policymakers in Washington.

"It is a sign of the strength and maturity of our relationship that we are able to talk candidly about our differences," Biden said.

Xi, reciprocating his U.S. counterpart's trip to China last year, said he hoped his visit would "strengthen consensus...and deepen our friendship."

SEEKING A SMOOTH START

While Obama will treat Xi to Oval Office talks -- an honour usually reserved for closest allies -- the U.S. president was expected to tread a cautious line in their first meeting.

He will be mindful of the importance of making a smooth start with China's heir apparent but also of the political need to be firm with Beijing as he seeks re-election in November. Republican presidential candidates have accused Obama of being intimidated by China on trade and currency issues.

Xi, 58, arrived in Washington on Monday and held a get-to-know-you dinner with U.S. foreign policy veterans, including former national security advisers Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.