NEW DELHI, Jan. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- China and India held their firststrategic dialogue here on Monday and exchanged views on both international and regional issues of mutual concern.

A press release issued by the Chinese delegation to the dialogue said Wu Dawei, Chinese vice-minister of foreign affairs, and Shhyam Saran, Indian forei gn secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, held talks and reached a broad consensus on various issues.

Both sides also exchanged views on Sino-Indian relations and agreed to make efforts to "raise bilateral ties to a new level."

"Launching of the new dialogue mechanism indicates the resolve of the two countries to take bilateral engagements into a long-term and strategic relationship," Indian External Affairs Ministryspokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters after the talks.

Sarna said the discussions, which covered regional and global issues, showed a broad convergence of views.

"Both briefed each other on their respective foreign and security policies," the press release said.

Later, Indian Minister of External Affairs Natwar Singh met with Wu and the Chinese delegation. Singh said both India and China should develop their bilateral relations on the basis of thefive principles of peaceful co-existence. He also said he was satisfied with the dialogue and felt that it had helped enhance mutual trust and understanding.