ISIS poses threat to US and China: Top officials

WASHINGTON: The dreaded Islamic State militant group poses a serious threat to China and the US, senior officials of both countries have agreed as they discussed steps to strengthen coordination in addressing this threat, the White House has said.

A White House statement in this regard came after the National Security Advisor Susan E Rice, accompanied by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco met with the Chinese State Councilor Guo Shengkun.

The meeting was primarily held to discuss issues related to cyber security. During the meeting they underscored the importance of full adherence to the US-China cyber commitments made during President Xi Jinping's state visit on September.

The meeting occurred at the conclusion of the first US-China High-Level Joint Dialogue on Cybercrime and Related Issues, which State Councilor Guo co-chaired along with Attorney General Lynch and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson on December 1.

"Rice and Guo agreed that ISIS poses a threat to both the United States and China and discussed steps to strengthen coordination in addressing this threat," National Security Council Spokesperson Ned Price said.

"Rice raised enduring US concerns about human rights conditions in China. The US and Chinese delegations agreed on the importance of expanding practical bilateral cooperation while also dealing directly with our differences in order to continue developing the US-China relationship," Price said.