U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has urged China to reduce tension in the South China Sea.
He also expressed concern over the pace and scale of Beijing's land reclamation in the disputed area.
He was speaking on May 16 in Beijing at the start of a two-day visit amid deepening security concerns over Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
China's rapid reclamation effort around seven reefs in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea has alarmed nearby countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
Kerry, speaking at a joint news conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said Beijing and Washington were committed to finalizing a deal that would block paths for Iran to obtain fissile material.