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.