The trade war rocked the global economy earlier this year, but relations have stabilized after a series of temporary truces. The latest pause on U.S. tariffs placed on imports from China is scheduled to expire in November, and officials from both countries are under pressure to prevent relations from backsliding.

A group of U.S. lawmakers on a rare visit to Beijing told China's No.2 leader, Premier Li Qiang, that the world's two largest economies need to step up engagement and "break the ice" as both superpowers made further inroads into stabilising ties.