By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Senior officials of the US and China have held a "candid" discussion, according to statements by Washington and Beijing amid strained diplomatic relations.

The US State Department said in a statement that Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs Sarah Beran held meetings with China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Director General of the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department Yang Tao in Beijing on Monday.

"The two sides had candid and productive discussions as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and build on recent high-level diplomacy between the two countries," it said.

However, the US side made it clear that Washington would compete vigorously and stand up for US interests and values, the statement noted.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also called the discussion "candid and constructive."

"The two sides conducted candid, constructive, and fruitful communication on promoting the improvement of Sino-US relations and properly managing and controlling differences in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state in Bali last November," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

However, Beijing also said it clarified the country's solemn position on Taiwan and other major issues of principle during the meeting and that both sides agreed to continue to communicate.

The latest development came after China last week rejected a request by the US for a meeting by the defense chiefs of the two countries on the sidelines of an annual security forum in Singapore.

The three-day 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit, held from Friday to Sunday, was attended by top defense and security officials, including US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, who shook hands at the opening reception.

On Friday, Austin, during his address, stressed the need for dialogue to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations.

"Dialogue is not a reward. It is a necessity. And a cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement. And the more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict," he said.