Chinese leader emphasizes unity, touches on differences

The hosts of the globe's two largest economies must work together to peck away at solving worldwide dilemmas, the likely next leader of China told a Washington audience during his official visit.

Reuters reports Xi Jinping is likely to ascend to the top of China's government in slightly more than 12 months from now. His audience on Wednesday was the U.S.-China Business Council, which consists of business executives, academicians and policy makers.

"The world is currently undergoing profound changes, and China and the United States face shared challenges and shoulder shared responsibilities in international affairs," the vice president of China said during his keynote speech in the nation hosting the world's biggest economy.

Later this year he is positioned to climb to the top of the Communist Party that rules the nation hosting the world's second largest economy. He is likely to become president early next year.

The Associated Press reports he also issued a warning to the U.S., noting the nation he likely will lead and Washington "should respect each other's core interests and major concerns."