Clinton said the US and China must co-operate to tackle the world's toughest crises [Reuters]

Hillary Clinton made the announcement at a Washington dinner welcoming Wu Bangguo, the head of China's congress, on Thursday.

For his part, Wu called for better economic co-operation with the US and the removal of trade barriers protecting US industries from foreign competition.

He said his was the first visit to the US by a leader of China's Congress in 20 years.

The counterterrorism talks Clinton announced on Thursday will be the first institutionalised discussion between the US and China, which already hold regular talks on political and economic issues.

Continuing dialogue

Clinton cited the nuclear standoffs with North Korea and Iran, climate change, non-proliferation, pandemic diseases and poverty reduction as possible areas for greater co-operation.

She did note, however, that the US and China had "a very frank discussion" about human rights during talks in July which focused on bilateral, regional and global challenges on economic and foreign policy issues, as well as climate change.

Admitting that the US and China "will not see to eye to eye on every issue" she said both sides were committed to try to make the dialogue work.

"We have different histories, different experiences, different perspectives but we must seek to talk honestly and openly, even when agreement is not possible," Clinton said, adding that the Obama administration sees building a strong relationship with China as a central goal.

Barack Obama, the US president, is expected to make his first presidential visit to China in November.

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