SQL Server 2008: How to compare XML?

Question

Is there are way to compare variables or columns of XML in SQL Server 2008, which is different from comparing a varchar that can be made from the XML value? Some hashing mechanisms?

For example:

declare @xml1 xml = '<Xml1/>'
declare @xml2 xml = '<Xml2/>'
select case when @xml1 = @xml2 then 1 else 0 end 

Answer 1

select case when cast(@xml1 as nvarchar(max)) = cast(@xml2 as nvarchar(max)) then 1 else 0 end