MojNews-The U.S. peace envoy to Afghanistan is in Beijing for a previously scheduled meeting, an American Embassy spokesman said Thursday, as indications grew of a new momentum in efforts to end Afghanistan’s 18-year war and push by China to boost its influence in the region.

The spokesman gave no further details about the visit by Zalmay Khalilzad , but it comes just days after he said that for the first time he can report “substantive” progress on all four issues key to a peace agreement. The spokesman spoke on routine condition of anonymity.

Khalilzad has said the latest round of talks with the Taliban had been the “most productive” yet, and had broadened to include a timeline for both intra-Afghan negotiations and a cease-fire . U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month that Washington is hopeful a peace agreement to bring an end to the war can be reached before Sept. 1.