WASHINGTON: The United States and China on Friday held talks on maritime issues including the South China Sea, the U.S. State Department said.
In a statement, the State Department said the US during discussions underscored its concerns about Chinese actions in South China Sea.
It added the talks took place in Beijing between the department’s China Coordinator Mark Lambert and China’s Director-General for Boundary and Ocean Affairs Hong Liang.
It went on to say the talks were part of efforts to open lines of communication and responsibly manage the U.S.-China ties.
It said the talks were constructive and candid and covered a range of maritime issues, including the South China Sea and East China Sea.
US, China to hold consultations on arms control
Earlier, China after a visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Washington said that the U.S. and China would hold consultations on arms control and nonproliferation in the coming days, as well as discussions on maritime affairs.
READ MORE: War on Gaza: Moscow Says Abbas ‘Postponed’ Trip to Russia Amid Barbaric Israeli Bombardment
A State Department spokesperson has said the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Arms Control Mallory Stewart would host Sun Xiaobo, head of the arms-control department at China’s Foreign Ministry next week at the State Department.
In recent months both countries have been engaged in diplomatic row with an objective to salvage deteriorating ties between the two countries.
Biden and Xi are likely to meet this month, but details of the visit have yet to be hammered out.
