China and the United States need to maintain high-level contact and deepen cooperation in various areas of common concern, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi saidin Phuket Wednesday in his meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (R) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during their meeting in Phuket, Thailand, on July 22, 2009. [Liu Lianfen/Xinhua]

Yang said the two countries should also keep close communication and collaboration on global issues and properly handle disputes and sensitive issues in order to push forward bilateral ties.??

Both Yang and Clinton are in the southern Thai resort Phuket to attend ASEAN Regional Forum scheduled on Thursday. The ASEAN, or Association of Southeast Asia Nations, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Clinton said that the US hoped to closely cooperate with China in dealing with challenges and threats such as the global financial crisis and international terrorism to maintain world peace and security.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (2nd L) meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (1st R) in Phuket, Thailand, on July 22, 2009. [Liu Lianfen/Xinhua]

During the meeting, the two sides also mentioned the upcoming first US-China strategic and economic dialogue.

The dialogue will be held in Washington, D.C. from July 27 to 28. Clinton and US Treasure Secretary Timothy Geithner will be joined for the dialogue by their respective Chinese Co-Chairs, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

The dialogue will focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities that both countries face on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global areas of immediate and long-term strategic and economic interests.

On Wednesday, Yang also met with his counterparts from Russia, South Korea and Pakistan.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2009)