Beijing  - Senior Chinese and German diplomats met in Beijing Monday for the third round in a strategic dialogue aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries, local media reported.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Hui and German Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Reinhard Silberberg co-chaired the vice-ministerial level meeting, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Both sides exchanged views on promoting ties amid the global financial crisis and other international and regional issues of common concern, the Chinese Foreign Ministry was reported as saying.

The strategic dialogue between China and Germany was initiated by Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in May 2006 with the aim of increasing communication and boosting bilateral trade. The first round was held in November 2006 in Beijing, followed by a second round in Berlin in 2008.(dpa)