Xi's state visit to US confirmed

Beijing and Washington confirmed on Wednesday that President Xi Jinping will make his first state visit to the United States in September, raising hopes that the long-anticipated trip will enhance the crucial but often-troubled relation-ship between the world's largest economies.

Xi accepted US President Barack Obama's invitation during a wide-ranging discussion on the phone, touching on issues ranging from a Sino-US investment treaty to the more contentious topic of cybersecurity.

The announcement came as US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken was in Beijing.