US President Barack Obama on Wednesday invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to a pay a state visit to the US in September, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The invitation was extended by Obama to Xi during a phone conversation, where the two world leaders discussed various issues, including the Chinese president's first state visit to the American soil.

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During the phone conversation, Xi accepted Obama's invitation for a September state visit to the United States, the state news agency reported.

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.

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.

During their conversation on Wednesday, the Chinese president also called on both sides to broaden cooperation in economy and trade, military, energy, environmental protection, infrastructure and law enforcement and expand people-to-people exchange, so as to consolidate the foundation of China-US ties.

"Over the past year, we have had a series of in-depth talks, reaching important consensus on China-US ties as well as significant issues concerning regional and international peace and development. I looked forward to continuing strategic dialogues with President Obama," Xi was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

For his part, Obama said the US is willing to work with China to maintain the momentum, strengthening pragmatic cooperation with China in such fields as economy and trade, jointly addressing regional and global challenges and controlling their differences.

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