China-US relations through the footsteps of Xi Jinping

Feb. 2012, in Washington, Iowa and California

Then Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (3rd right, front) joins dozens of ordinary Americans for tea at a local house owned by his old friend Sarah Lande (3rd, L) in Muscatine, Iowa in Feb. 2012. [Photo: Xinhua]

The then Vice President met a number of US officials, including President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Xi Jinping reiterated the importance of the steady development of bilateral relations and mutual benefit on many occasions during the visit.

His landmark trip was described as a "Valentine's Day date" with the US by many media.

During his fifth visit to the US, Xi made one personal request -- a stop in Muscatine, the small county he once visited 27 years ago, to meet his "old friends".

Then Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (center, front) is presented with souvenir jerseys with names of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles Galaxy soccer player David Beckham at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, in Feb. 2012. [Photo: Xinhua]