US President Donald Trump has hailed "tremendous progress" after two days in US-China trade talks, welcoming a "beautiful" letter from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who said he hoped for further cooperation.
Mr Trump's comments were an upbeat conclusion to the latest round of talks, but the White House emphasised the two sides still faced the "hard deadline" of 1 March to avoid another sharp escalation in their trade war.
Economists say that prospect, which would mean more than doubling US tariffs on $200bn in Chinese goods, would be a body blow to the global economy.
In a letter to his US counterpart that was read out by the Chinese delegation, President Xi said relations were at a "critical" stage and that he hoped "our two sides will continue to work with mutual respect".
Mr Trump said relations between the two countries were "very, very good".
American trade officials are due to travel to China next month for the next round in shuttle diplomacy after which, Mr Trump said, he and Mr Xi will meet to strike the final bargain.
"We have to get this put on paper at some point if we agree. There's some points that we don't agree to yet, " Mr Trump said.
"I think we will agree. I think when President Xi and myself meet, every point will be agreed to."
With China's economy slowing sharply and markets on edge at the prospect of further trade disruptions, the stakes for the talks have become especially high.
Last year, Washington and Beijing slapped tariffs on more than $360bn in two-way trade and US duty rates on $200bn in Chinese goods are due to rise to 25% from 10% if no agreement is reached by 1 March.
"We haven't talked about extending the deadline," Mr Trump said.
Prior to this week's talks, China had offered to resume purchases of American soy beans, a key US export, sales of which had plummeted during the trade war, leaving US farmers reeling. Some exports have since resumed.
At Thursday's meeting with Mr Trump, Mr Liu said China agreed to purchase an extra five million tons of soybeans per day.
"That's going to make our farmers very happy," President Trump told Mr Liu.
The White House later clarified that the purchase would not be daily and there had been no time frame set.
But, while US officials have welcomed offers to help cut the soaring US trade deficit with China, they are demanding far-reaching changes to Chinese industrial policy.
US officials, including US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, say the world's two largest economies are battling for nothing short of future dominance in critical high-tech industries.
The US is attacking Chinese trade practices it says are unfair, spotlighting the forced transfer of American technology through requirements that foreign companies form joint ventures with local firms, as well as other methods of allegedly stealing American intellectual property.
"It's impossible for me to predict success but ... it could happen," Mr Lighthizer said, noting that the discussions focused on structural matters and ways to enforce any ultimate agreement.
A little over three years ago, Beijing launched a strategic plan dubbed "Made in China 2025" that aimed to make the nation the global leader in aerospace, robotics, artificial intelligence, new-generation autos and other areas -- sectors US officials say now represent the "crown jewels" of American technology and innovation.
Signs of progress in the talks have lifted global stock markets in recent weeks as investors took heart that the world's two largest economies would avert an economic cataclysm.
The news from the White House emerged just prior to the closing bell on Wall Street, helping stocks bounce slightly higher and adding to the best January for the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 30 years.
Beijing implemented economic stimulus measures to shore up its economy after it last year posted the weakest growth for almost 30 years - underscoring its vulnerability in the trade fight.
But Washington's aggressive actions against Chinese telecoms firm Huawei, which federal prosecutors accused this week of industrial espionage, sanctions violations and fraud, threatened to upend the talks, drawing irate objections from China.
