Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry here on Saturday, pushing the two sides to make good preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States in September, Xinhua reported.
President Xi's visit at the invitation of President Barack Obama will be the top priority of China-U.S. ties this year, Yang said.
He called on both sides to enhance strategic communications, promote strategic mutual trust, deepen strategic cooperation so as to push forward China-U.S. relations in the right track of building a new-type of relations between major powers.
The seventh China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) and the sixth China-U.S. High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) will be held in the United States in June. Yang said the two countries should make good use of the two mechanisms.
The two sides should push forward cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture, military, climate change and other fields, strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation in major global and regional affairs as well as multilateral institutions, said Yang.
He stressed that China and the United States should view each other's strategic intentions from an objective and rational perspective.
Yang reiterated China's principled stance at the South China Sea issue, urging the United States to do more good for regional peace and stability.
The U.S.-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties around the world, Kerry said, noting that the two sides have maintained communications and coordinations in more and more areas.
Bilateral cooperation in dealing with climate change, fighting against Ebola epidemic and other fields sent a positive message to the international community, according to Kerry.
Kerry said the United States attaches great importance to President Xi's visit in September, is willing to work with China to make full preparations to make sure the visit is a success and have a significant favorable impact.
The United States is ready to make joint efforts with China to strive for more consensus during the S&ED and CPE, roll up achievements for President Xi's visit, according to Kerry.
Yang and Kerry also exchanged views in climate change, Iranian nuclear issue and other affairs, according to an official press release.
Earlier Saturday, Kerry held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, met with Chinese Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang respectively.