Chinese president plans to first state visit to US in 2015

World Today

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a statement during a signing ceremony with Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Rolex Dela Pena, Pool)

A top Chinese diplomat has said Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to make his first state visit to the U.S. later this year, Chinese state media reported Monday.

The official China Daily newspaper quoted China’s ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai saying Chinese and U.S. officials are discussing the visit. No date had been determined yet, Cui said.

U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice confirmed Friday that the U.S. has invited both Xi and Japanese President Shinzo Abe for state visits.

Xi last met with U.S. President Barack Obama in November 2014 after an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing.

The U.S. and China have been working together on a range of high-profile issues, including limiting their emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for climate change. The world’s biggest economies have also clashed diplomatically on several fronts such as accusations over cyber-espionage and Chinese actions asserting its territorial claims in the East and South China seas.

Report complied with information from The Associated Press