The talks previously set for late March were delayed by the war in the Middle East, which has sent global energy prices soaring as shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz has effectively come to a halt.
The world’s second-largest economy produced a record-breaking trade surplus last year at US$1.2 trillion.
For Trump, imbalance in the countries’ trade relationship has long been a major sticking point.
SUPERPOWER SUMMIT
Ahead of the key meeting, China’s exports to the United States grew 11.3 per cent year-on-year in April, GAC data showed Saturday, returning to growth after dropping sharply by 26.5 per cent in March.
Shipments to the United States had also dropped 11 per cent in January and February combined.
Trade is set to be a prominent topic in the upcoming meeting between Xi and Trump, with both leaders eyeing key concessions for their massive economies.
Beijing has set an official target growth range for this year of 4.5 to 5 per cent – the lowest in decades.
Early indications suggest the country’s economy is on pace, with growth in the first quarter reaching the top of that range at five per cent, according to government data released in April.
Economists argue that China should shift towards a growth model powered more by household consumption than traditional drivers including real estate and infrastructure investment.
In a positive sign for domestic spending, imports into the world’s second-largest economy grew 25.3 per cent year-on-year last month, the GAC data showed Saturday.
That figure beat a Bloomberg forecast of 20.0 per cent but was slightly lower than the 27.8 per cent surge in March.
Monthly inflation data due Monday is expected to shed further light on how efforts by leaders to encourage consumers to pull out their wallets have been faring.