China and the United States are in communication regarding US President Donald Trump's proposed visit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday, after Trump indicated that he plans to meet with President Xi Jinping in May during what would be his first trip to China in his second term.

Speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, Lin reiterated that head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-US relations.

The remarks follow Trump's announcement on Wednesday that he will make a visit to the Chinese capital on May 14 and 15.

In a social media post, Trump said the trip had been postponed earlier due to US military operations against Iran, and that representatives are now finalizing arrangements. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, confirmed the dates, saying that China "understood" and "accepted" the request to reschedule.

READ MORE: Beijing: China, US in communication regarding date of Trump's visit

Xi and Trump last met in person in October on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Busan, South Korea. Since the start of Trump's second term, the two leaders have also held four phone conversations. The last US presidential visit to China took place in November 2017, during Trump's first term.

Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank, said the fact that the two sides have maintained communication on the visit demonstrates a joint commitment to sustaining high-level engagements.

"China's response has been consistent, conveying a clear message that communication channels remain open and functional," he said.

Contact the writers at jihaisheng@chinadaily.com.cn