Rare earth metals come from China – they are vital for production of a range of electronic items China has told the US it will continue to be a “reliable supplier” of so-called “rare earth” minerals, key to the global high-tech industry.
China recently suspended export of the metals to Japan following a diplomatic spat.
But the US has pressed China, which has pledged not to use the minerals as a diplomatic weapon, to defuse the row.
Representatives from China and Japan also held informal talks on the fringes of an Asean conference in Vietnam.
“We have made very clear to both sides that we want the temperature to go down,” a US official said, following a meeting between Hillary Clinton and her Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, in Hanoi.
China produces some 97% of these valuable commodities, which are used to produce electronic items such as mobile phones.
The stoppage followed a spat between China and Japan last month over islands whose ownership is disputed.
Earlier, in Hawaii, Mrs Clinton said Chinese export restrictions were a “wake-up call” for the world to seek additional sources of rare earths.
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