BEIJING - China and the United States are communicating on deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation ahead of the upcoming state visit to China by US President Donald Trump, a spokesman said Thursday.

"We expect the two sides to reach greater consensus on the development of Sino-US economic and trade ties through the upcoming visit and the meetings between the two heads of state," Gao Feng, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said at a regular press conference.

During the visit later this year, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross will head a trade delegation for joint economic and trade activities. Both sides are conducting close exchanges on the arrangements for those activities, Gao said.

He expressed hope for the two sides to achieve positive and pragmatic results to contribute to the healthy and steady development of bilateral economic ties.