Chinese state councilor to visit US

BEIJING  - Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi will visit the United States in mid-to-late October at the invitation of the US government.

Yang will exchange views with the US on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei announced Tuesday in a press release.

China and the US agreed Sunday to jointly make good preparations for US President Barack Obama's visit to Beijing next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

The consensus was reached between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State John Kerry during a phone conversation, initiated by the top US diplomat.