China and the U.S. should strengthen dialogue and cooperation, properly manage differences and prevent conflict and confrontation under the current international situation, senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi said when meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday in Rome, the capital of Italy.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two diplomats had "candid, in-depth and constructive communication" on bilateral ties and "the Ukraine issue, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iran nuclear issue and the Afghanistan issue."

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the implementation of the consensus between the two heads of state is the most important task for China-U.S. relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden last November, during which Xi proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as three principles for developing China-U.S. relations in the new era.

President Biden responded positively, saying that the United States does not seek a new Cold War or to change China's system, nor will it oppose China through strengthening alliances, supporting "Taiwan independence," or seeking confrontation with China, said Yang, who is also the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee.

The Chinese side always views and handles bilateral relations in accordance with the three principles put forth by President Xi, Yang said, expressing his hope that the U.S. side can truly deliver on President Biden's promises.

The two sides agreed to increase understanding, manage differences, expand consensus and strengthen cooperation to accumulate conditions for bringing China-U.S. relations back to the track of sound and steady development at the meeting.

Stressing that the Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Yang said in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, the U.S. side explicitly recognized that there is only one China and that the one-China principle is the premise for establishing diplomatic relations between China and the United States and is the political foundation of their relations.

The current U.S. administration has pledged to adhere to the one-China policy and not to support "Taiwan independence" in regard to the Taiwan question, but its actions are obviously inconsistent with its statements, he said.

The Chinese side expresses grave concern over and firm opposition to the recent wrong words and deeds of the U.S. side on Taiwan-related issues, Yang said, adding that any attempts to condone and support "Taiwan independence" separatist forces or play the "Taiwan card" and use the Taiwan question to contain China will be futile.

China urges the U.S. side to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, abide by the one-China principle, the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, the commitments made by the U.S. side, and stop going further down a dangerous path.

Yang expounded on China's solemn position on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, pointing out that these issues concern China's core interests and are China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. Any attempt to use these issues to suppress China will fail, he said.

Yang said seeking common ground while shelving differences and building a bridge of cooperation on top of proper settlement of differences is the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other, which has been tested by practice since the Shanghai Communique was issued 50 years ago.

He said the two sides should learn from history, grasp the premise of mutual respect, hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and seize the key of win-win cooperation.

A handout from the White House echoed Yang's remarks, saying the two officials "underscored the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and China." It also said they had a "substantial discussion" on the Ukraine crisis but did not elaborate further.