Panetta is on the second official stop of a three-nation tour to Japan, China and New Zealand.
China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping, who
vanished from public view for two weeks earlier this month, appeared healthy
Wednesday, visiting US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said after meeting him. 
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (L) sits with China's Vice President Xi Jinping at the Great
Hall of the People in Beijing, September 19, 2012.
"Frankly my impression was that he was very healthy and very engaged," Panetta told reporters after becoming the first foreign dignitary to meet Vice President Xi since his fortnight-long disappearance.
Xi's unexplained absence had attracted global attention with theories about his health ranging from backache to a heart attack.
But the Pentagon chief, on a visit to Beijing, was unable to shed any light on what had happened to his host during the period.
"You'll have to ask them what issues were involved here," Panetta said, referring to the Chinese government.
Panetta said he came away "very impressed" and that Xi appeared well-informed and committed to improving US-China relations.
The meeting was originally scheduled to last 45 minutes but continued for more than an hour because Xi was interested in extending the discussion, he said.
"He was sharp, agile," a senior US official who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters.
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