In a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Wang said that Beijing and Washington should "safeguard the hard-won stability" in China-US relations, China's foreign ministry said.

The talks between the two -- which also included discussions of the situation in the Middle East -- came two weeks before US President Donald Trump is expected to visit China for a high-stakes meeting with counterpart Xi Jinping.

The talks are seen as a key moment in ties between the world's top two economies, which were tense last year when the Republican billionaire returned to the White House.

In 2025, Washington and Beijing clashed over trade and tariffs until a truce was declared in October, when Trump and Xi met in South Korea.

"Both sides should safeguard the hard-won stability, prepare well for key high-level interactions, expand areas of cooperation" and manage their differences, Wang told Rubio, according to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry.

While ties have "generally remained stable" under Trump and Xi, Wang "emphasized that the Taiwan issue concerns China's core interests and is the biggest risk point in China-US relations", it said.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification and is sharply critical of US military assistance to the self-ruled island and its support of Taipei on the international stage.

"The United States must honor its commitments and make the right choices, opening new perspectives for bilateral cooperation and do its part to promote world peace", Wang said.

The statement from the Chinese ministry said Wang and Rubio had "exchanged views" on the situation in the Middle East, without offering further details.