PRESIDENT Xi Jinping will make his first state visit to the United States in September, underlining positive momentum in the often-troubled relationship between the world’s largest economies.

Xinhua News Agency said that the president had accepted President Barack Obama’s invitation to visit in a telephone call between the two overnight.

The announcement coincided with US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s presence in Beijing to meet Chinese officials.

Mr Obama visited China in November to attend the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum during which he held a separate day of meetings with Mr Xi.

The two men met in June 2013 for an informal summit at the Sunnylands estate in California, which was cited by the Chinese side as helping to redefine ties based on equality and mutual respect.

While working together on a range of high-profile issues, including greenhouse gas emissions, the two have clashed diplomatically over cyber-espionage allegations and maritime territorial claims.