China, US hold strategic dialogue in Beijing

In the backdrop of Chinese "muscle flexing" in the South China Sea and the ongoing nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula, senior officials of China and the US met in Beijing for a strategic meeting, the media reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei told a press briefing here on Friday that Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui and US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a frank and extensive exchange of views on "major strategic and security issues" as part of their Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Xinhua reported.

Without elaborating, Hong said the two sides agreed to continue to use the Dialogue platform to smoothen bilateral differences, if any.

Earlier in December, the Chinese defence ministry accused the US of "flexing muscles" when a military flight strayed into disputed airspace near the South China Sea islands.

In response to a separate question, Hong said dialogue and negotiation remain the best way to resolving the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula.

He called for resumption of the six-party talks as soon as possible to realise long-term peace and security.