Media keep news of visit front and center

NEW YORK - With the Republican primaries raging, the death of Whitney Houston and Obama submitting his 2013 budget to Congress on Monday, there has been plenty to compete for attention. But the visit by Vice-President Xi Jinping made major headlines in US mainstream media on Tuesday.

USA Today, the largest circulation daily newspaper, has kept coverage of Xi's visit constantly updated and in a prominent position on its website, declaring "Obama works to build important relationship with China".

On The New York Times website, coverage of Xi's visit has been prominent and updated with Xi's busy activities, in addition to its usual coverage on other subjects related to China.