Who is Xi? That was the question asked by the American public and press back in 2012. But in only three years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has become an influential figure among US politicians, academia and the business world, owing to his extraordinary charisma and personality.

Ahead of Xi's first state visit to the US, we take a look at the perception of the Chinese president among US leaders and public.

In 2013, Xi had a meeting with US president Barack Obama in Annenberg Estate, California. [Photo/cctvnews]