Xi's visit a chance for Obama to make history

Chinese President Xi Jinping will soon pay his first state visit to the United States. The big question is: What can he accomplish during this visit?

Shortly after assuming office, Xi accepted US President Barack Obama's invitation for an informal visit to the US. Xi must have thought that getting to know Obama on a personal level would be an important step to improve bilateral ties. In fact, from the outset, Xi has made a closer working relationship with the US one of his highest priorities.

When Obama visited Beijing last November, he and Xi made two surprising announcements: to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to issue 10-year, multiple-entry visas to citizens of the other country. The multiple-entry visa has already resulted in a significant increase of Chinese tourists to the US, substantially boosting the American economy. And reducing GHG emissions has been one of Obama's major initiatives that he could now check off as a bilateral accomplishment.