In a telephone call with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Rubio "emphasized the importance of open and constructive communication on a range of bilateral issues," the State Department said without specifics.

The call came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a major parade to mark the end of World War II, bringing together leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

President Donald Trump accused the three leaders of conspiring against the United States.

Wang described the call with Rubio as fruitful but also warned that "negative words and deeds from the US side have undermined China's legitimate rights and interests," according to state news agency Xinhua.

"China and the United States once fought side by side during World War II to defeat militarism and fascism, while in this new era, the two sides should work together for world peace and prosperity, tackle global challenges and shoulder their due responsibilities as major countries," Wang was quoted as saying.

Rubio as a senator was known for his tough line on China and in his confirmation hearing warned of an all-out global struggle to prevent Beijing from outpacing the United States as the pre-eminent global power.

But Rubio had a cordial meeting with Wang in July in Malaysia, and Trump has spoken highly of his relationship with Xi and voiced hope for visiting China this year.

Trump nonetheless recently suggested he will hike tariffs on China, as he has with India, over its purchases of oil from Russia, which has defied the US leader's appeals for a ceasefire in its invasion of Ukraine.