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The United States and China have created two working groups to address economic and financial challenges, marking a renewed effort to strengthen US-China ties.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng will supervise these groups. Stemming from Yellen’s July visit to Beijing, she said the new groups were “an important step forward in our bilateral relationship” and would “serve as important forums to communicate America’s interests and concerns.”

This decision follows a secret meeting last week between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, where topics from Asia-Pacific policies to maritime matters were discussed. An unnamed US official mentioned that talks about arms controls between both countries were also on the table.

In addition to the National Security Advisors meeting, communication between the US & China increased after US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s visited China in August. Her visit led to new channels for dialogue, focusing on export controls and addressing trade and technology disagreements.