BEIJING — State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing on May 16, pushing the two sides to make good preparations for President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States in September.

President Xi’s visit at the invitation of President Barack Obama will be the top priority of China-US ties this year, Yang said.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi (1st R) meets with US Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd L) in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2015.[Photo/Xinhua]

He called on both sides to enhance strategic communication, promote strategic mutual trust, deepen strategic cooperation so as to push forward China-US relations in the right track of building a new-type of relations between major powers.

The seventh China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) and the sixth China-US High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchanges (CPE) will be held in the United States in June. Yang said the two countries should make good use of the two mechanisms.

The two sides should push forward cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture, military, climate change and other fields, strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation in major global and regional affairs as well as multilateral institutions, said Yang.

He stressed that China and the United States should view each other’s strategic intentions from an objective and rational perspective.

Yang reiterated China’s principled stance at the South China Sea issue, urging the United States to do more good for regional peace and stability.

The US-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties around the world, Kerry said, noting that the two sides have maintained communication and coordination in more and more areas.

Bilateral cooperation in dealing with climate change, fighting against Ebola epidemic and other fields sent a positive message to the international community, according to Kerry.

Kerry said the United States attaches great importance to President Xi’s visit in September, is willing to work with China to make full preparations to make sure the visit is a success and have a significant favorable impact.

The United States is ready to make joint efforts with China to strive for more consensus during the S&ED and CPE, roll up achievements for President Xi’s visit, according to Kerry.

Yang and Kerry also exchanged views in climate change, Iranian nuclear issue and other affairs, according to an official press release.

Earlier on May 16, Kerry held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, met with Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong and Premier Li Keqiang respectively.