The United States' national security adviser Susan Rice met with China's top diplomats and military officials on Monday to address challenges in the US-China ties, reports said. The meeting with State Councilor Yang Jiechi is also aimed at paving the way for President Barack Obama's visit to Beijing in November.

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Speaking at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing's west, Rice assured her audience that Obama still considers China a priority despite all the other issues being tackled by the administration at present.

In addition, she said that her visit's main reason was to ensure that conditions for the meeting between Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November are in place.

She is set to meet with China's defence and foreign ministers on Tuesday.

Yang said that their talks would focus on military issues surrounding the two countries. They would also touch on counterterrorism, conflicts in the Middle East, North Korea, and other topics of mutual concern.

Citing relation issues like the recent jet intercept, Yang said that U.S. and China must "truly respect each other's core interests and major concerns and constructively manage our differences and sensitive issues."

But the jet intercept was just one of the challenges that tested the U.S.-China ties.

There is also China's military cyberspying on the U.S. and Obama's alleged efforts to contain China's expanding power beyond Asia by forging ties with its Asian rivals.

In an editorial by state-run Xinhua last week, China described the American reconnaissance in the South China Sea as "provocations out of fear for Beijing's growing economic prowess and regional clout."

Even Susan Rice had joined in the series of bitter exchanges by harshly criticizing China's approach to the crisis in Syria.

However, her trip to China changed the Asian giant's view of her and the U.S.

In the editorial, Xinhua acknowledged her "maturity" in her attitude towards China.

Xinhua added that her visit to China was at a crucial time "when it is of great urgency for the United States to reaffirm its commitment and sincerity to Beijing by treating it as a true partner."

Tagssusan rice, Yang Jiechi