WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama has invested more time building personal ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping than with most other world leaders. But as Xi arrives in Washington late Thursday for a state visit, it’s clear that Obama’s overtures have produced decidedly mixed results.
During intimate walks and hours of private discussions around the world, Obama and Xi forged a historic breakthrough to combat climate change and collaborated on efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program. But there’s been little progress on a pair of vexing security issues that will be at the forefront of their latest round of discussions: China’s cyberspying in the U.S. and its disputed territorial claims in the Asian Pacific.
Before plunging into the pageantry of the state visit, Obama and Xi will meet for dinner Thursday night.