I suppose when you owe someone $1.2 trillion a certain amount of ass-kissing is required.

(CNS News) — Vice President Joseph Biden kicked off a five-day visit to China Thursday by exchanging warm words with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the man expected to lead the ruling communist party next year and then assume the presidency in 2013.

Ahead of the meeting, Xi hosted a welcome ceremony at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People for Biden, saying in opening remarks that China and the U.S. share “common interests” and together shoulder “common responsibilities.”

“Enhancing the China-U.S. relationship fits not only the interests of the two nations, but also that of the world,” Xi added.

Biden told his host that cooperation between the U.S. and China was “the key to global economic stability.”

“I would suggest that there is no more important relationship that we need to establish on the part of the United States than a close relationship with China.”

Stressing the importance of establishing trust, Biden also expressed to Xi — who is due to make a reciprocal visit to Washington in the coming months — the “fond hope that our personal relationship will continue to grow as well.”