Xi-Obama meet to guide world ties: Chinese daily

Beijing, Sept 24: The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama is likely to guide international relations in the 21st century, said a state-run Chinese daily which noted that the two leaders will make efforts to solve "strategic distrust and miscalculations".

An editorial "Xi-Obama meet can set template for future" in the Global Times said that the US Department of Defense on Tuesday revealed that earlier this month, Chinese fighter jets made an "unsafe" interception of an American spy plane above the Yellow Sea.

"This information was released as Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on a state visit to the US. The Department of Defense behaved like petitioners demanding that Chinese leaders solve their problems," it said.

On the same day, a demand was made to "release human rights defenders in China". Forty-four writers and intellectuals also issued an open letter to Xi regarding human rights issues.

The editorial said that "these troublemakers often choose important timing so as to attract the attention of leaders and the public. This applies to both China and the US. They are not so naïve as to believe Beijing will compromise, while the Pentagon just wanted to vent its spleen".

Xi is on a visit to the US from Sep 22 to 28 and he meets Obama on Thursday in Washington.

The daily said: "Xi's US visit will result in deep communication between the world's two biggest powers."

"During his stay in Seattle, Xi practically touched upon all sensitive issues between China and the US. He talked about China's current economic performance and its currency policy.

He also mentioned the fluctuation in China's stock market. This has been the most authoritative description of the Chinese economy that American society could hear of," it added. The editorial went on to say that many people believe the current Sino-US relationship is undergoing some strains.

It said: "The Xi-Obama summit, which is likely to guide international relations in the 21st century, will take place in Washington, DC. "The two leaderships will make efforts to solve strategic distrust and miscalculations."

IANS