Yet the American president's visit acknowledged that China was a great power, encouraged American companies to do business there and helped China in its relations with the Soviet Union.
So it is unlikely that the meeting's participants will escape to sample the delights of what Wikitravel, the free travel guide, describes as "still a somewhat dull area to visit," while acknowledging that "Watford Town Centre comes alive at night particularly on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays".
They visit to acknowledge the massacre of the innocents and the sacrifice of youth.
"Nobody's actually climbing into that bed" when they visit, he acknowledged.
During Mr. Bosworth's visit, North Korea acknowledged a possible role for the six-nation talks but did not say when it would resume them.
And imagine what would happen if Benjamin Netanyahu were to visit Ramallah, acknowledge Palestinian suffering and also Palestinian national and historical rights, particularly to a country of their own, on their native land.
The visit also acknowledges Russia's increasing clout in the Middle East, and the kingdom's tacit acceptance of the enduring rule of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, whom Saudi Arabia had opposed and Russia had intervened to save.
There was some incredulity over how Downing Street had arrived at the number, and No 10 eventually issued a list at the end of Xi's visit that acknowledged the total included previously announced agreements.
But, speaking at Moscow's New Economic School on the second day of his visit, he acknowledged that the US needed to play its role in making a "fresh start" in US-Russian relations.
Ukraine would like it out after its lease expires in 2017; just days before Kirill's visit, Russia acknowledged that it had violated treaty stipulations by transporting cruise missiles near the base.
