Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping says China and the United States should continue being friends and partners. [Lan Hongguang / Xinhua]

WASHINGTON - Vice-President Xi Jinping spent Valentine's Day meeting United States' political, economic and military leaders during the second day of his five-day US trip aimed at ensuring smooth ties in a turbulent US election year.

During the meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday morning, the two leaders pledged to keep strengthening relations while speaking candidly about differences.

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Speaking in his first White House visit, Xi told Obama that it "has been the only correct choice for both China and the US to exclude various forms of obstacles, and persist on being friends and partners".

"China is looking forward to enhance trust, consolidate consensus, enlarge cooperation and manage dispute with the US side," Xi said.

He also pledged to continue dialogue and cooperation instead of protectionism in managing trade disputes.

Obama said a cooperative US-China relationship is in the interests of the world, adding that China's rise brings with it greater responsibility.

"I have always emphasized that we welcome China's peaceful rise, that we believe that a strong and prosperous China is one that can help to bring stability and prosperity to the region and to the world, and we expect to be able to continue on the cooperative track that we tried to establish over the last three years," Obama said.

He said past talks have enabled both countries to manage areas of tension.

"It's vital for the US to have a strong relationship with China," said Xi, who added that the US should enhance dialogue and coordination with China on issues such as Iran's nuclear capabilities, the Korean Peninsula and Syria.

Obama also reiterated the "One China" policy based on the three joint communiques signed between the two countries, said he opposes Taiwan's independence in any form and looks forward to the continuous development of cross-Strait ties.

US Vice-President Joe Biden, Xi's formal host for his weeklong visit, also held talks with Xi in the White House.

Biden said that while "we are not always going to see eye to eye", both nations should speak candidly about their differences.

"The United States and China have much to do together, quite frankly, because our relationship is literally going to help shape the 21st century. We're not only the two the world's two largest economies, we're both Pacific powers. And every day the affairs of our nations and the livelihoods of our citizens grow more connected," he said. "Despite our differences, China and the United States are working more closely together on a broader range of issues than ever before."

He made the remarks at a US State Department luncheon with Xi.

Xi also visited the State Department and the Pentagon for talks with US military officials. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to meet with US congressional leaders before flying to Iowa, a state he visited 27 years ago when he was a county official in China.

He will then fly to Los Angeles to meet with business leaders and reportedly watch an NBA game on Friday.

Due to the China's card many American politics playing in this election year, and the differences between China and US in many world affairs, Xi's visit can somehow ease the tensions between the two nations, Shi Yinhong, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, told China Daily.

"But if we really want to have a candid talk on those differences as Biden expected, US needs to do more than what they said," he said.

Derek Scissors, research fellow of the Heritage Foundation, said the most important effect of the Tuesday schedule is for American officials to learn more about Xi.

Tan Yingzi in Des Moines, Iowa and Zhao Yanrong in Beijing contributed to this story.

China Daily