Obama, Xi summit to set tone for new type of relations: expert (2)

WHAT WILL THEY TALK ABOUT?

Before the meeting, both the Chinese and U.S. sides have set up broad perimeter for the topics the presidents are going to discuss.

Bader observed that both leaders do not want to simply talk about "a checklist of the issues." Instead, they will try to provide the other side "a full, transparent look" into their respective way of thinking on issues ranging from economy, foreign policy to national security.

"Their real objective is to build a relationship, to build a personal relationship, to try to figure out where we will be four years from now when Obama leaves office, and five years from now when President Xi completes his current term in office," said Bader. "The feeling is to get an early start, not to wait until fall, so we can really build this relationship to a new level."

That is not to say specific issues won't be on the agenda, he added.

He believed the situation in the Korean Peninsula, the economy, and cyber security will top the agenda. Other issues include energy, climate change, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and also those involving South China Sea and East China Sea.