Chinese vice-president highlights youth communications in China-U.S. ties

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping has called for mutual understanding and friendship between the youths of China and the United States.

Xi made the remarks Friday during a visit to the International Studies Learning Center, a public school featuring foreign language and cultural studies, in South Gate, southeast of Los Angeles.

Xi and his entourage were greeted by U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and a traditional Chinese drum performance and a dragon dance by students at the door of the school.

Xi and Biden then had a warm discussion with a class of standard Chinese-speaking students.

When asked about his hobbies, Xi said he likes reading, swimming and watching basketball, baseball and American football games. Swimming is his favorite sport, he said.

"Of course we always want more time for ourselves," Xi said in Chinese.

"But to borrow a title from an American film, it's like 'Mission Impossible,'" he joked. The room burst into laughter.