US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi have met in New York, apparently to discuss issues including Hong Kong.
According to the US State Department and China's Foreign Ministry, the two met in the city on Tuesday but gave no details.
A State Department official earlier told NHK that the United States is demanding that China observe the China-Britain joint declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law that guarantee the territory's high degree of autonomy.
The official condemned violence and urged all sides to exercise restraint, but expressed Washington's firm support for freedom of speech and peaceful assembly in Hong Kong.
Pompeo is believed to have conveyed such a stance to Yang during their meeting.
For his part, Yang is likely to have reiterated China's stance. The Chinese government has asked Washington not to interfere in China's internal affairs, accusing US politicians of encouraging the protesters in Hong Kong.
The divisive view on Hong Kong may become a new source of friction between the US and China that are already embroiled in a trade dispute.
