Xi likely to meet Obama during European tour
Both presidents will attend global Nuclear Security Summit being hosted in The Hague later this month during Xi's four-nation visit
President Xi Jinping is likely to meet US President Barack Obama during his first presidential visit to Europe at the end of the month.
Both presidents will attend the Nuclear Security Summit 2014 in the Netherlands, and it is possible he will meet Xi on the meeting's sidelines. Fifty-three national leaders are scheduled to attend the summit and discuss issues such as proliferation and nuclear terrorism.
Obama launched the first summit in Washington in 2010. The second was held in Seoul in 2012 and this year's meeting is being hosted in The Hague on March 24-25.
Chen Zhimin, a professor at Fudan University's School of International Relations and Public Affairs, said such an encounter would afford an opportunity to review developments in Sino-US affairs since the two presidents last met in California in June.
"Important international issues like the problems in East Asia and Ukraine might be discussed if the two have a chance to meet," Chen said.
Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang yesterday made no mention of Obama, but said Xi would pay state visits to the Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium from March 22 to April 1, at the invitation of the four countries' leaders.
Xi's visit reflects the Chinese government's commitment to the relationship