China and the United States should work together to deal with global challenges, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

Wang made the appeal to Washington when he met in Beijing with John Thornton, global co-chair of the Asia Society, a New-York based non-government organization that promotes shared futures for Asia and the world across policy and others.

In the face of rising regional hotspot issues and global challenges, such as climate change and the food and energy crisis, China and the U.S., as two major responsible countries , should carry out necessary cooperation, the Chinese foreign minister said, adding that it is also the general expectation of the international community.

The Chinese side is open to dialogue with the U.S. side at all levels, he said.

"We welcome more face-to-face communication with those in U.S. business, strategy and academic communities, including Mr Thornton, to enhance mutual understanding between the two countries," said Wang.

For his part, Thornton said the U.S. and China are supposed to be strategic partners who can work together.

"I am ready to continue to play a role in promoting U.S.-China economic and trade exchanges, enhancing the American public's comprehensive understanding of China and promoting the stable development of U.S.-China relations," he said.

During the meeting, Wang also urged the U.S. side to follow through on the consensus between the two heads of state when they met on Indonesia's resort island of Bali last month.

The U.S. should see China as it is, stop unjustified containment and suppression and return to a positive and pragmatic policy toward China, he said.