Mubasher: Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is set to visit Washington on 30 and 31 January for further trade negotiations, in a sign of progress in efforts to end the dispute, a news report said.

Liu would meet with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Bloomberg reported, citing sources briefed with the plans, adding that the timing of the visit could change.

Liu is a key economic adviser to Chinese President Xi Jinping and in charges of the negotiations with the US.

The reported visit is expected to be Liu’s second one to Washington in trade talks, after he almost reached an agreement with the US last May, from which President Donald Trump back away later.

US and Chinese officials voiced optimism after a three-day mid-level trade talks wrapped up in Beijing last week, sparking hopes across global markets.

Nevertheless, neither side provided any detail as to what was agreed during the meetings.

Both sides would carry on with the trade talks as planned, Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters on Thursday, without detailing when such meetings would take place.