Xi visit a 'positive signal', author says

President Xi's visit would send a positive signal for the US-China relationship, laying a foundation for the US strategic cooperation with China in the future, said David M. Lampton, George and Sadie Hyman Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington.

Lampton made the remark at a book launch of the Chinese version of his book Following the Leader: Ruling China, from Deng Xiaoping to Xi Jinping, which examines the progress of China's political elites from their own perspectives.

"Although the relationship between China and the US is getting complicated, the visit could be the turning point," Lampton said.

"The visit will also provide the opportunity to President Xi to talk with President Obama about how to continue constructive strategies so that there will be no big shift of policies towards China."

"I think we need to develop a new common strategic understanding and it's important to cooperate in the economic stabilization of Asia," he said. "We can work as security friends. I remain an optimist."

The state visit could also be beneficial in terms of setting a cooperative tone on the settlement of controversial issues, according to Lampton.

Through the visit, the leadership of China and the US can figure out their disagreements and send a positive signal to guide the interaction between lower-level government players, he said.

From a more general perspective, this visit is also about sending a friendly signal to the government as well as the American people.

"It is important to let people know, through the visit, we have the willingness to continue to cooperate with each other," Lampton said.

Pan Jialiang contributed to this story.