CRI听力:Xi Set to Visit US, Attend Nuclear Summit

The White House has confirmed that President Xi Jinping will meet with President Barack Obama on Thursday, on the sidelines of the nuclear summit, and will talk about a wide range of issues.

Laura Holgate, special assistant to the U.S. President, says she is pleased to see President Xi coming to the summit, and by the nuclear cooperation between China and the US.

"One of the things we are pleased about is the role that China is showing in terms of cooperating with other countries, internationally, on the nuclear security issue. And we hope to share that partnership and to see Chinese leadership in that realm increase even further."

Dan Kritenbrink, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, National Security Council, describes President Xi's visit as an extension of the existing high-level communication.

He says the two leaders' meeting at the Paris climate summit last December resulted in great efforts in issues related to climate change, and inspired all sides to ditch differences to reach agreement on the final draft text.

"Bilateral cooperation with China right now is exceptional, broad, and deep on issues ranging from climate to nuclear security to development, public health, Iran and Afghanistan."

Diplomat Thomas Countryman, the US Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and NoNPRoliferation, also stressed the importance of the two sides working together.

"Just the same as in every other important global issue, it is vital that China and the United States understand each other and cooperate with each other."

With the two sides having deepened cooperation in various fields, the fate of the two has grown closer. Li Cheng, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, says the common interests of the two countries transcend their differences.

Despite all odds, he sees opportunity in global issues where China and the U.S. can work hand in hand.

Li also points out that the meeting between Xi Jinping and Obama is of great importance as it's the only bilateral meeting at the summit, and it's the Chinese leader's second U.S visit in six months.

"As the only bilateral meeting at the summit, it shows China's importance on influencing international affairs and on U.S. diplomacy. Regarding this, the meeting could have impact on the American people's decision on the next administration, subliminally."

He emphasized China's decision on constructing a new model of major-country relationship between China and the US - one of no Conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation in the new era.