China Officials Meet with U.S. Officials & Sec. of State
A Chinese man strolls under traditional red lanterns hung in a park in celebration of China's approaching Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, in Beijing January 29, 2011. The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays and is full visits home to family and feasts. UPI/Stephen Shaver
China officials met in Beijing Friday with U.S. officials -- a week after their presidents' summit -- for follow-up work on relations between the countries.
Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, who is leading the U.S. delegation, met with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Xinhua news agency reported.
The two had met during the Washington summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said the two sides had "productive consultations" Friday.
"Our communication and exchanges have become more and more frequent," Dai was quoted as saying. Steinberg expressed hope the two sides can "work faster" together on all aspects of China-U.S. relations, Xinhua reported.
The U.S. team also met Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai.
Their talks included the situation on the Korean Peninsula, which has been tense since North Korea's shelling of a South Korean border island in November killed four people. North Korea's uranium enrichment program and its withdrawal from the six-nation talks on its denuclearization also remain a concern.
