Vice-president calls for stronger Sino-US ties in Washington visit

WASHINGTON / BEIJING - A healthy and stable Sino-US relationship is crucial to both nations and globally important, Vice-President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama agreed on Tuesday during a meeting in Washington.

It is "absolutely vital" for the US to have a strong relationship with China, Obama said.

Earlier, Xi called for China and the US to boost cooperation and forge stronger links, especially among their citizens.

China and the US should "enhance dialogue, expand cooperation", promote trust, strengthen communication between their people and face common challenges together, Xi said on Tuesday in a meeting with his US counterpart, Joe Biden.

Xi said he hoped his visit would strengthen relations.

Biden said the two powers should work together despite their differences.

"We are not always going to see eye-to-eye and we are not always going to see things exactly the same, but we have very important economic and political concerns that warrant that we work together," Biden said.

"Our bilateral relationship is the most important in the world," he said.

Vice-President Xi Jinping meets US President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington on Tuesday. China and the US should work closer together to face common challenges, Xi said. [Photo/Agencies]