China is sending a high-ranking diplomat to the U.S. this week, marking yet another rapprochement between the two powerful countries following strains in their relationship over the past couple of months.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi would visit the United States on Monday and Tuesday, making him the most senior Chinese official to visit the U.S. since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, Chinese state media reported.      

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The visit comes immediately after last week's phone conversation between Yang and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, where both leaders acknowledged the importance of a constructive U.S. - Sino relationship.

Among other things, laying the groundwork for the first meeting between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would dominate Yang's visit, a government-backed Chinese think tank claims.  

The North Korea issue is also likely to dominate the high-profile visit, following the latest missile test by the reclusive communist state earlier this month, which was soon followed by a coal ban import imposed by China.         

China and the U.S. have been busy mending their strained ties in past couple of weeks, after a rocky start to their bilateral relationship following Trump's stunning victory in the U.S. presidential election in November last year.

Ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Trump tested nerves of Chinese leadership by making several controversial statements on issues that are considered as highly sensitive, including the One China policy, South China Sea dispute, and the North Korea issue.

But Trump has considerably mellowed his stance against China since arriving at the White House. In a surprising development, he made a u-turn on One China policy during a phone conversation with Xi barely weeks after taking office.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held a one-to-one meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson earlier this month in Germany on the sidelines of G20 Foreign Minister's Meeting. The meeting signified the improving ties between the two countries. 

Tagschina, U.S., Yang Jiechi, China and U.S.