'Progress' on trade talks could set stage for deal

Such an agreement will send a positive signal to the two peoples and the broader international community. It will serve to ensure healthy development of China-US relations and contribute to steady growth of the world economy, Xi said, according to a Chinese press release.

Trump expressed thanks to Xi for the message, and said the current round of trade talks had made "tremendous" progress, and he expected the two sides to reach a "great deal". Such a deal would be of great significance to the two countries and the world as well, according to the release.

Trump also said Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would lead a US trade delegation to continue talks in China in mid-February. The president said he looked forward to meeting Xi as early as possible to witness the historical moment when the US and China reach agreement on their trade and economic issues.

Trump tweeted earlier in the day: "China's representatives and I are trying to do a complete deal, leaving NOTHING unresolved on the table. All of the many problems are being discussed and will be hopefully resolved.

"No final deal will be made until my friend President Xi, and I, meet in the near future to discuss and agree on some of the long standing and more difficult points," he said on his Twitter account.