CRI听力:President Xi's Visit to the U.S. as Significant as Deng Xiaoping's Visit 36 Years ago: Exper

Su Ge heads the China Institute of International Studies.

He says President Xi Jinping's visit to the US this time carries the same gravity as former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States 36-years ago.

"With the changing pattern of international relations, this visit will be a milestone. The relationship between China and the U.S. has entered a new transitional period. China is overcoming difficulties and trying to make breakthroughs in its reform and opening up. That's why the timing and the meaning of this visit are of great importance. Personally speaking, I believe the visit will be as important as Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States years ago."

Ruan Zongze, former Minister Councilor with the Chinese embassy in Washington, says he believes the trip to the US is going to have a significant influence on future ties between China and the US.

"Sino-U.S. ties have entered a phase of mutual shaping, which means China will take a more active role in the relationship. There are some new ideas in China about how to reshape and develop the future relationship between the two countries. I believe this visit will have a lasting impact on the Sino-U.S. relations in the next few years, or even for a longer period."

It's expected the talks between Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama may touch upon issues connected to the South China Sea, cyber security and human rights.

Yuan Peng, vice-President of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, suggests the meetings between the two should be focused, instead, on areas where both sides can cooperate, rather than differ.

"The current international system is on the eve of a profound change. It is urgent for the both sides to think about the current system and work to co-build a future international order. Global issues like economic cooperation, climate change are of higher priorities than what is currently being talked about in the US media, such as cyber security, human rights and South China Sea issue."

Former Minister Councilor Ruan Zongze says while Xi Jinping's trip will be scrutinized by the media, he notes it won't be the first time.

US President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972, as well as former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's visit to the States in 1979 came at times when the relationship between China and the US were at cross-roads.

"In history, there are many times that the top leaders met under an unfavorable environment. For instances, Nixon's visit to Beijing greatly propelled the process of establishing diplomatic ties between China and U.S. while Deng Xiaoping's visit impressed the American people, which helped levitate the bilateral relations between the two countries."

Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to spend 4-days on his official State visit before spending some time in New York to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.