US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The talk marked the first cabinet-level exchange between the two countries in months following a string of trade and national security irritants.

The US Commerce Department said in a statement that the two had candid and substantive discussions on issues relating to the US-China commercial relationship, including the overall environment in both countries for trade and investment and other areas for potential cooperation.

According to a Chinese Commerce Ministry statement, both sides agreed to establish and maintain open communication channels to enhance exchanges on specific economic trade concerns and cooperation matters.