Trump has said he will host Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House this year, as the world's top two economies look to reset ties marred by a trade war.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Kremlin press service said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had held talks via video link. According to Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the sides discussed bilateral relations and "key international issues".

Both leaders gave versions of what they discussed, but the Chinese president’s take made clear the issue of the island was front and center.

This is not because Xi is expected to step down anytime soon from his posts as general secretary and president. Rather, it reflects the fact that even as Xi is widely expected to enter a fourth term,

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the situation in Iran in a wide-ranging call as the U.S. administration pushes Beijing and others to further isolate Tehran.

Visit comes as Beijing prioritises tech-driven development and achieving self-reliance in its latest socio-economic blueprint.

President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, had an “excellent” wide-ranging discussion on Wednesday, with China considering increasing its purchases of U.S.-farmed soybeans. China May Boost US Soybean Purchase As a goodwill move ahead of Trump's expected visit to Beijing in April,

Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the burgeoning economic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing and their relations with the United States in a video call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.