WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Thursday that China’s president, Xi Jinping, would be coming soon to the White House, fueling anticipation that the world’s two largest economies may be close to finishing a trade deal.

Mr. Trump, in remarks to White House staff, parents and children gathered on the lawn for Take Your Children to Work Day, did not indicate when the meeting might take place or what would be on the agenda. He has suggested in the past that Mr. Xi would travel to the United States for a signing ceremony once the countries have a final deal.

His comments come as negotiators from the United States prepare to head to China on Sunday for another round of trade talks, which will be followed by talks next month with Chinese officials in Washington.

For months, Mr. Trump’s trade advisers have been jetting between Washington and Beijing as they try to resolve a trade war that has begun to inflict economic damage on both sides of the Pacific. The deal is likely to include provisions that would improve intellectual property protections, require China to buy more American goods and prevent Beijing from forcing American companies to transfer technology to Chinese partners as a condition of doing business there.