
(CNN) - They were once on opposing presidential tickets, but Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. John McCain will sit down for a public conversation next week in Sedona, Arizona.
Biden and McCain will share the stage as they open up a dinner for the annual forum at the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University.
"I am very pleased that Vice President Joe Biden, my friend of many years, will speak at this year's Sedona Forum," McCain said in a statement. "From his decades of experience in foreign policy in the Senate to his critical role in the White House today, Vice President Biden has a unique perspective on America's role in this complex and dangerous world."
Before becoming vice president, Biden had a 36-year career as a Democratic senator alongside McCain, a Republican.
While the senator from Arizona has been critical of the Obama administration, McCain recently crossed party lines and sided with his old friend in supporting a bipartisan compromise to expand background checks for firearm purchases. The measure, however, was ultimately voted down.
The Sedona Forum bills itself as a "high-level conclave" of leaders from the private and public sectors who discuss national security, foreign policy, human rights and economic policies.
Other participants this year include GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt, Walmart President and CEO Bill Simon, former NBA star and humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo, and former Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril.
Senators who plan to attend include Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire; Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina; and retired Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
- CNN's Ashley Killough and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.


"McCain Institute for International Leadership"
Oh brother.
I'm surprised there isn't bad blood between the two after the 2008 campaign.
Rumor has it that Biden only invited him over to the WH so he can yell "GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!" when he's halfway across it...
"former NBA star and humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo"
Ha! Tha's gonna make for some great photo ops.
We need more forums like this with opposing viewpoints to air out the grievances. I hope it accomplishes something, at least diaglog.
Ayotte, Lieberman, Graham and Kyl: Well that's a real 'brain trust".
uncle joe and maverick together..oh boy
Biden to McCain, "Don't you think it's time to accept that you lost in 2008 and your party got its butt handed to it in 2012."
John McCain the RINO and the socialist Joe Biden. Please give me a break.
Word on the street is that Biden will ask him to step aside in front of everyone.
It's time for McCain to set an example, step down so we can get a few people in there who will take their job serious and represent the American people instead of the lobbyists in their back pockets.
Sounds to me like y'all are jealous. Maybe they respect each other and enjoy each others company. Y'all are always tryin to make something out of nothing!