Panetta welcomes Xi at Pentagon

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Story: U.S. Defense Secretary Lean Panetta welcomed Chinese leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping at the Pentagon.

Xi's visit comes at a time when ties between Beijing and Washington -- the world's two biggest economies -- have been buffeted by strains over economic disputes, human rights and each country's military intentions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Xi is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit since Obama launched a new U.S. "pivot" toward Asia in November to counterbalance China's increasing assertiveness in the region. Beijing has expressed misgivings about the U.S. shift.