Dewey Simin Beijing

China and the United States agreed to strengthen dialogue “at all levels” and deepen cooperation during “constructive” talks between their top diplomats on Friday, according to Beijing.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio he hoped Washington would approach China “in an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial manner” and “find a correct way for China and the US to get along”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

The statement said both sides described the sit-down talks on the sidelines of anAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday as “positive, pragmatic and constructive”.

“[The two sides] agreed to strengthen diplomatic channels and communication and dialogue at all levels across various fields … and explore expanding areas of cooperation while managing differences,” it said.

It is the first in-person sit-down meeting between the two diplomats since Rubio assumed his position in January.