Chinese officials told President Donald Trump Thursday their country will purchase a large amount of soybeans from the United States as the two sides continue trade discussions.

The officials made the unexpected revelation during an Oval Office meeting with Trump.

"Yes. The answer is yes," U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told Roll Call when asked to confirm the soybeans report.

"It was a surprise announcement in the sense I didn't know about it until a very short time before."

Some reporters were in the Oval Office when the Chinese officials confirmed their plans to immediately purchase 5 metric tons of soybeans.

"That's going to make our farmers happy, that's a lot of soybeans," Trump said, according to a pool report.

China purchased 31.7 metric tons of soybeans in all of 2017, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. and China continue to try to hash out a trade deal that will make both countries happy.

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