Beijing and Washington are widening the scope of their discussions by adding new sections to their annual dialogues and consultations, according to observers.

The two sides held their fifth Strategic Security Dialogue on Monday as a prelude to the seventh China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday.

They have decided to continue their dialogue and communication on related issues to increase mutual trust and promote a stable China-US strategic security relationship, according to a statement by the Chinese delegation.

Both sides stressed the importance of the SSD and agreed to hold more talks leading to a new SSD next year before the eighth Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing.

The talks at the S&ED follow two tracks. The strategic track will include discussions on climate change, a round-table meeting of entrepreneurs and a special meeting on protecting the oceans, according to Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang.

An economic track will prioritize cooperation over macro-policies, said Vice-Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said innovation is a prominent feature on the agenda for the dialogue, and gave as an example several new elements that are to be considered during the economic track sessions.

The talks on additional themes could strongly influence the bilateral relationship, Ruan added.

Wu Xinbo, executive dean of the Institute of International Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University, said discussions between the countries generally focus more on detailed issues than on the strategic level.

"Regardless of whether the other side agrees or disagrees, China and the United States should say what they really think," Wu said.

US officials have told reporters that the US delegation will touch on the cybersecurity issue during the dialogue and will express concerns over what it claims are cyberattacks by China.

A China-US working group on cyberaffairs previously met regularly along-side the dialogue but was suspended in May last year. Beijing announced the suspension after the US filed charges against five Chinese citizens, saying Washington "lacks sincerity" over resolving cybersecurity issues.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing on Tuesday that the resumption of the talks "requires the US to properly tackle the relevant issues and create conditions for dialogue".

Turning to the strategic and economic dialogue and the SSD, Lu said the two sides "often raise various issues of common concern in a frank manner and exchange views because they are at a very high level".

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