China and U.S. hold talks over arms control and non-proliferation in Washington

Officials from China and the United States held talks over arms control and non-proliferation in Washington as both sides pledged to enhance mutual trust, build consensus, manage differences and explore cooperation, according to a statement released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

The meeting was held between Sun Xiaobo, head of the arms control department of the MFA, and Mallory Stewart, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance.

The two sides engaged in in-depth, frank, and constructive exchanges of views on a wide range of issues, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, cooperation among the five nuclear-armed states, nuclear security, non-proliferation and export control, biosecurity compliance, outer space security, and conventional arms control.

Beijing emphasized that both sides should uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security perspective, respect each other's sovereignty, security, and development interests, enhance strategic mutual trust, and work towards maintaining the international arms control and non-proliferation system, the statement said.