China and the US have discussed measures to step up cooperation when dealing with major regional and global issues during the second day of their economic talks on May 25.

Speaking at a press briefing after the first meeting of the on-going second round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), Ma Zhaoxu, the spokesman for the Chinese delegation, said that the main topics to be discussed during their second meeting would be bilateral cooperation in public health, customs, energy, the environment and climate change.

Both parties would also discuss military relations, how to reform international bodies and the building of a mechanism for Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, he said.

Ma said that mutual understanding and trust between the two countries had improved after the first round of their strategic talks in July 2009.

According to China ’s spokesman, China has put forward five proposals to strengthen its bilateral ties with the US . These include respecting each other’s major interests and concerns, following globally-recognised rules guiding international relations and peacefully resolving pressing regional issues through dialogue and negotiation.

Both countries should deal with disputes in an objective and calm manner and not let China - US cooperation deteriorate due to short-term difficulties.

They should encourage collaboration and enhance communications and consultations on major international topics such as the nuclear issues posed by Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), climate change and energy security, to benefit both countries and the global community.

On the first day of their talks, they discussed economic strategies, Europe’s debt crisis, China ’s exchange rate and liberalising the internet.

They also approved a new agreement under which they will invest in joint research and support each other in developing vehicles that using new sources of energy.

Also on the same day, senior military officials from the two countries held a meeting. The US delegation was led by the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, Admiral Robert Willard, while China ’s delegation was headed up by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army, Senior Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian.

This was the first senior-level military talks held between the two countries since Beijing suspended military exchanges earlier this year in response to the US selling arms to Taiwan./.