Xi's US visit will play a positive role in advancing Sino-US relations and a healthy and mutually beneficial partnership

Vice-President Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to the United States next week. The upcoming visit is of great significance for the two sides as they strive to maintain the good momentum of their relations in 2012.

President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama paid reciprocal visits, and agreed on two joint statements in November 2009 and January 2011, both of which not only reflected the development of bilateral relations, but also put forward ideas and measures for furthering relations. These two joint statements serve as important supplements to the three joint communiqus issued in the 1970s and 80s.