The US government says it has formally invited newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Washington. The veteran diplomat reassumed the post after his predecessor Qin Gang was dismissed last month.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday that the invitation that had previously been made to Qin was extended to Wang during a meeting of senior diplomats of both countries in Washington one day earlier.

In June, US State Secretary Antony Blinken visited Beijing and agreed with then-Chinese Foreign Minister Qin on his visit to Washington. But Qin was later dismissed from his post and replaced by Wang.

Miller said the date of Wang's visit has yet to be worked out, adding that the United States hopes China will accept the invitation.

Miller stressed Washington's commitment to continuing dialogue with Beijing. He said the issues on which the US needs to cooperate with China are as important as "the issues in which we need to raise concerns with them."

US President Joe Biden has expressed hope that he will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The US government is apparently hoping to lay the groundwork for a possible summit meeting between the two leaders during Wang's visit.