Chinese President plans to make first state visit to U.S.February 9, 2015 - 09:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A top Chinese diplomat has said President Xi Jinping plans to make his first state visit to the U.S. later this year, Chinese state media reported Monday, Feb 9. According to the Associated Press, the official China Daily newspaper quoted China's ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai as saying Chinese and U.S. officials are discussing the visit. Cui told Chinese reporters Sunday that no date had been determined yet. U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said Friday that the U.S. has invited both Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for state visits. Xi last met with U.S. President Barack Obama in November after an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing. The two also met in Rancho Mirage, California, during a more informal visit to the U.S. in June 2013. The U.S. and China have been working together on a range of high-profile issues, including pledging in November to cut back on their emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for climate change. The world's biggest economies have also clashed diplomatically on several fronts such as accusations over cyber-espionage and Chinese actions asserting its territorial claims in the East and South China seas. Photo: Xinhua Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |