WASHINGTON - Senior officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the US government held discussions here Wednesday on exchanges between the CPC and major US political parties.

Wang Jiarui, visiting head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Acting US Secretary of State James Steinberg, also talked about other issues of mutual interest during their meeting.

Wang said with close attention and guidance from top Chinese and US leaders, all sectors of the two countries have forged the consensus on the importance of building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive bilateral relationship for the 21st century, as well as a partnership to address common challenges.

Political parties from both sides need to exchange views candidly through dialogues on overall, strategic and long-term issues concerning the development of bilateral relationship, said Wang, who is leading a CPC delegation here to attend the 2nd High-level Dialogue of Political Parties between China and the United States.

Such dialogues, he said, will help promote mutual strategic trust, and provide new platforms and dynamics for long-term, sound and steady growth of relations between the two countries.

Steinberg, for his part, said the framework laid down by US and Chinese heads of state has helped elevate bilateral relationship to a level of maturity.

The United States will stick to fundamentals of its policies toward China regardless of whatever changes that may happen in the country's political environment.

Steinberg said that the US side attaches great importance to the visit by the CPC delegation headed by Wang and its upcoming dialogue with both Democratic and Republican Parties, saying that such a channel of communication could play an important role in propelling the long-term growth of the US-China relationship.

Wang was invited by both Democratic and Republican Parties to attend the two-day dialogue, which opens Thursday.