Visit by US security adviser expected to reduce turbulence

The upcoming visit to China of US President Barack Obama's top security adviser will help pave the way for a potential meeting of the Chinese and US leaders and provide an opportunity to raise issues of contention between the countries, specialists said.

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice is expected to reduce the recent turbulence in the relationship, including the tension caused by US reconnaissance flights along China's coast in late August.

This will be Rice's first trip to China as the top security adviser, and her heavyweight role in the Obama administration cannot be ignored, observers said.