As China's President Xi Jinping prepares to depart for his first official state visit to the United States, both countries have reflected on their increasingly closer ties and underlined the importance of cooperation - despite their ever-present differences.

In a rare interview with the Wall Street Journal recently, President Xi noted that while both countries have deepened cooperation over the past few years, they still have divergent stands on several issues.

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"On issues that can be resolved, the two sides should make joint efforts to seek a solution; as to those issues that cannot be resolved for the time being, we should manage them in a constructive way," he said. "Make sure that they are not exacerbated or escalated, and prevent them from derailing the overall relationship of the two countries and cooperation that has served our two peoples so well."

In a speech at George Washington University on Monday, U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice echoed a similar opinion. "We are steadily and methodically expanding the breadth and depth of our cooperation with China. Our story is, overwhelmingly, one of progress," she said. "Still, the reality is we face difficult challenges. And, we never shy away from pressing our concerns."

Rice condemned "reductive reasoning" and "lazy rhetoric" that conflict between the U.S. and China cannot be prevented. "This isn't a zero-sum game," she noted.

President Xi is visiting the U.S. against a backdrop of tension between the two countries over the past few months regarding alleged Chinese cyberattacks on American government and private organizations.

President Barack Obama has threatened to take action against Chinese hackers who target U.S. organizations. These cyberattacks is one of the issues that President Obama is expected to discuss with President Xi. Experts say it is likely that the Obama administration would only take action against China if there are no lasting agreements from the meeting with President Xi.

Meanwhile, there are speculations that the U.S. and China are in the middle of negotiations to create the world's first cyberspace arms deal. The agreement - like the nuclear arms treaty - would stipulate that no signatory would attack the other and cripple its vital systems in times of peace, according to the New York Times.

Other issues on the agenda for the meeting between the U.S. and Chinese leader include China's stock market woes, the country's land reclamation activities in the South China Sea, as well as its alleged oil and gas exploration in the East China Sea. Both presidents would also discuss about climate change, Iran's nuclear deal as well as the possibility of reaching an agreement to facilitate the repatriation of Chinese fugitives, who have escaped to the U.S.

Before meeting President Obama in Washington for official meetings on Thursday and Friday, President Xi would visit Seattle for a banquet with politicians and business executives. He will also attend a roundtable business forum with some of the largest companies in America and attend the U.S.-China Internet Industry Forum.

TagsU.S.-China, President Xi Jinping U.S. State Visit Sept. 2015, President Barack Obama China, China cyberattacks US, Susan Rice China