BEIJING - China and the United States have started normal communications in the fields of economy and trade, agreeing on joint efforts to solve some specific problems in a practical way, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

Commenting on the recent video talks between Chinese and US officials, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng said communications between the two sides had a "smooth start."

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-US comprehensive economic dialogue, held video conversations with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on May 27 and with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on June 2.