China and the United States should "enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, avoid vicious competition and maintain close communication," Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Thursday.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The two sides held in-depth exchanges on China-US economic and trade relations, as well as multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation, according to a statement from the ministry.

Wang stated that both sides must properly handle the relationship between competition and cooperation, as well as between past issues and future engagement, to promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

Wang also raised serious concerns over recent US Section 301 investigations launched against multiple economies, including China, under the so-called pretext of "overcapacity" and "failure to prevent imports of goods produced with forced labor."

Greer noted that over the past year, the US and China have conducted constructive economic and trade consultations and maintained close communication and cooperation. He expressed the US' readiness to work with China, strengthen dialogue, and promote sustained stability and mutual benefit in bilateral economic and trade relations.

Greer also expressed the US' willingness to enhance communication and exchanges with China within the WTO and regional frameworks.

wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn