Obama stresses economic roles with China's heir apparent NEW: President Obama raises human rights concerns NEW: He says China has economic responsibilities Xi is destined to become the next Chinese leader He is expected to take a tough line on issues like trade Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama welcomed China's presumptive premier at the White House Tuesday but also set the tone for future relations between the two world powers. Obama said that with China's meteoric rise as an economic powerhouse came a responsibility to ensure balanced trade flows. He also raised the delicate issue of human rights as a critical area of concern for the United States. "We've tried to emphasize that because of China's extraordinary development over the last two decades, that with expanding power and prosperity also comes increased responsibilities," Obama said after an Oval Office meting with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. "We want to work with China to make sure everyone is working by the same rules of the road when it comes to the world economic system," he added. Xi arrived at the White House Tuesday for talks with Obama and other senior U.S. officials during a five-day U.S. visit set to burnish credentials for the man destined to be the Asian giant's next leader. He said the main purpose of his visit was to work to strengthen U.S.-Chinese relations and build a "cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interests." The trip also gives Washington a chance to size up Xi. President Hu Jintao undertook a similar visit 10 years ago as he was being groomed for the top job. In welcoming Xi earlier, Vice President Joe Biden said the United States and China were not always going to see eye to eye but the two global powers share important concerns. "A sign of strength and maturity of our relationship is that we're able to talk candidly about our differences," Biden said. This bilateral relationship is one of the most important in the world. Xi, who is expected to become the leader of the China's ruling Communist Party later this year, said he looked forward to in-depth and candid talks. He also said he hoped to engage with a broad section of the American people. "I think he's going to be tough with a smile on his face," said James McGregor, senior counselor for the communications firm APCO Worldwide in China. There is also persistent tension over China's efforts to control the level of its currency, the renminbi, which U.S. officials say makes it undervalued. Xi's engagements in the United States began Monday with a dinner in Washington attended by former U.S. secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright. He was given a less cordial welcome by activists advocating Tibetan independence, who started unfurling a banner on Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington Monday afternoon. CNN's Jethro Mullen, Stan Grant and Moni Basu contributed to this report.