US National Security Adviser Rice to visit Beijing this weekend

US President Barack Obama listens as UN Ambassador Susan Rice, his newly appointed national security adviser, speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, where the president made the announcement. [Photo/Agencies]

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice will visit Beijing Aug 28 and 29 to discuss a range of issues with officials, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday.

Rice's trip comes ahead of President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping's US meeting next month.

Xi's visit to US next mouth is significant to Sino-US relations and US will take effort together with China to guarantee the success of this visit, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday.

In reply to calls by some US politicians to Obama to cancel Xi's visit, Kirby said that US looks forward to Xi's visit and the plans have not changed.

Rice's trip also comes ahead of China's grand military parade on Sep 3 to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

"I can confirm that our ambassador, the president's representative to China, will be representing the United States at the event," Kirby said at a press briefing. "He's the president's representative to China and he's the president's choice to represent the United States at this event and the ambassador is looking forward to attending."