Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make his first state visit to the United States in the later part of this year, the Chinese Ambassador to the US told Chinese reporters on Monday.

The specific dates have not been plotted yet but Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai confirmed the visit of President Xi, his first since becoming president of the world's second biggest economy.

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It will not be the first time for President Xi to visit the US though. In 2013, The Chinese president was in the US for an informal summit in California. This year's schedule, however, will be President Xi's state visit.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of US studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing, observed that the last time Xi made a formal trip to the US was in 2012 in the capacity of vice-president.

Cui said discussions are ongoing between Beijing and Washington for Xi's expected state visit while the US National Security Council confirmed that the White House is in process of determining convenient times for President Xi's visit to the US.

Although China and the US have exchanged barbs on various issues, including the alleged cyber espionage and on the territorial issues involving China and its neighbors, Cui said both countries have carried out successful high-level interactions in recent years.

"We are also very willing to see such interactions continuing this year, and we may even have a greater success," Cui said.

The announcement by the Chinese ambassador came after Obama's national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, extended an invitation to Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to come to Washington for a state visit.

The state visit by the leader of the world's second-biggest economy is expected to be a major event that the international community will watch over, sources said.

China Daily reported that the discussions in the state visit could include highly sensitive issues but a major confrontation is unlikely to take place as both countries try to protect their relationship.

TagsXi State Visit US, US Visit of Xi Jinping