US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg (L) shakes hands with China's State Councillor Dai Bingguo during a meeting at the Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing, January 28, 2011.[Agencies]

BEIJING - China's top diplomat, Dai Bingguo, on Monday pledged to work with the United States to properly address differences and sensitive issues.

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Dai, China's State Councilor, underscored that commitment during his meeting with a delegation from the bipartisan US-China Working Group (USCWG) of the US Congress, a group focused on educating members and staff about US-China issues through meetings and briefings with academic, business and political leaders from the United States and China.

Congressmen Charles Boustany and Rick Larsen, co-chairs of the USCWG, led the delegation on its week-long China visit.

At the start of their meeting, Dai marveled at the expansion of the USCWG, which now boasts a membership of more than 60 representatives. It had only 15 members when it began in June 2005.

"Dai and the US Representatives had lengthy, candid and in-depth discussions on China-US relations and international issues of common concern,"  said a statement released by the National People' s Congress of China, which invited the delegation to Beijing.

Dai reviewed Chinese President Hu Jintao's successful state visit to the United States in January, saying that the visit ushered in a new era of partnership based upon mutual respect, benefit and common prosperity.

"We would like to work with the United States to implement the consensus by leaders of the two countries; increase dialogue, communication and cooperation; properly address differences and sensitive issues; enhance mutual trust and promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties,"  Dai said.

The statement did not specify what Boustany and Larsen said at the meeting.

After their meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing, the delegation will travel to the coastal city of Qingdao in east China and Chengdu, the capital of southwest China' s Sichuan Province.