President Xi leaves for US visit, UN summits

President Xi Jinping left Beijing Tuesday afternoon for his US visit and attendance at a series of UN summits.

The state visit, from Tuesday to Friday, takes Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan to Washington DC and to the US high-tech hub of Seattle, where Xi will reach out to a wide range of US society including business leaders, students and local officials.

He will also spend three days in New York City attending a series of summits at the United Nations headquarters marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the global body.

Sources close to the arrangements said the two countries are likely to seal more than 40 agreements and deals, including a major one on climate change.

Xi will deliver a major policy speech at a dinner for business leaders and other dignitaries on Tuesday night, where many believe he will elaborate on Sino-US ties.

Xi and Obama will have a small-scale working dinner in Washington on Thursday night before formal talks on Friday.

Jeffery A. Bader, former special assistant to the president of the United States for national security affairs, said: "(US President Barack) Obama has developed a good personal relationship with Xi, having spent hours with him at Sunnylands (California), and more time with him on his visit to Beijing. So they have a good relationship already.

"I think it is important for the two presidents to make statements on their joint commitments to managing the economic relationship, jointly dealing with global economic turbulence, and working to stabilize and send a reassuring message to markets in both countries," Bader said.

Many observers believe Xi's visit will help push for earlier completion of the marathon talks on the Bilateral Investment Treaty.