Key deals in sight as Xi starts visit

President Xi Jinping leaves Beijing on Tuesday for his first state visit to the United States, with negotiations between the two countries on many key sectors close to a successful outcome.

The state visit, from Tuesday to Friday, takes Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan to Washington DC and to the US high-tech hub of Seattle, where Xi will reach out to a wide range of US society including business leaders, students and local officials.

He will also spend three days in New York City attending a series of summits at the United Nations headquarters marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the global body.

Sources close to the arrangements said the two countries are likely to seal more than 40 agreements and deals, including a major one on climate change.

Xi will deliver a major policy speech at a dinner for business leaders and other dignitaries on Tuesday night, where many believe he will elaborate on Sino-US ties.

Xi and Obama will have a small-scale working dinner in Washington DC on Thursday night before formal talks on Friday.

Jeffery A. Bader, former special assistant to the president of the United States for national security affairs, said: "(US President Barack) Obama has developed a good personal relationship with Xi, having spent hours with him at Sunnylands (California), and more time with him on his visit to Beijing. So they have a good relationship already.