China and the United States will strengthen cooperation in the supervision on food and drug, said China's food and drug watchdog on Wednesday.

Yan Jiangying, spokeswoman of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) said that "the two sides will increase technical exchanges through seminars and training programs, and boost exchange activities between their working staff."

"The two countries also agreed to jointly fight against counterfeit drugs," she said.

Yan said China and the United States will have regular meetings between high-ranking officials and that the two sides are preparing a memorandum for drug and medical equipment supervision.

China and the United States have had negotiations on food and drug security recently including the latest visit by Rich MeKeown, chief of staff for the US Department of Health and Human Services from Aug. 1 to 3.

MeKeown's visit came after the US and China seized unsafe products from each side this year.

The US said the melamine-tainted wheat protein from China were linked to the deaths of cats and dogs in North America and claimed some of Chinese toothpastes, tires, and seafood unsafe.

Meanwhile, China seized orange pulp and dried apricots from the US that contain excessive bacteria, mildew and sulfur dioxide.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2007)