China's next leader to visit U.S. in February
January 24, 2012
China's Vice President Xi Jinping is set to visit the U.S. next month to meet with Vice President Biden. The two leaders will discuss global issues, and Reuters reports that the meeting will strengthen ties between the two nations. Part of the reason that the U.S. government is taking such an interest in Xi is that he is is slated to become the next leader of China in 2013. Ties between the U.S. and China have been weakened lately, due to economic struggles and security issues, but the AFP reports that this meeting could be a key step in mending these bonds.
"The man Biden's hosting, barring something no one foresees at this point, will become the head of China, head of the Communist Part, head of the government and head of the military," China expert Kenneth Lieberthal of Brookings Institution in Washington explained to the news publication. "This is really a chance for the Obama Administration to look forward to the succession and post-succession period in China and begin to establish critical personal relationships and a personal comfort levels back and forth."
People who are working or attending school in the U.S. can use international phone cards to make calls to China and discuss the latest news about Xi's visit and the relationship between the countries.