The Chinese leader also paid close attention to fostering stronger people-to-people bonds between the two countries. Ahead of this Spring Festival, Xi sent a Chinese New Year card in return to friends in the US state of Iowa, expressing his hope that the two peoples will pay more visits to each other and have more exchanges.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host a meeting next week with some of the nation's top entrepreneurs - including six Hangzhou-based start-ups known as the "Six Little Dragons" - to recognise progress in critical areas of technological advancement and show support to the private sector,