China's top diplomat met with his American counterpart Wednesday at the State Department in Washington, discussing, among other topics, the recent Hong Kong democracy protests.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stopped in Washington after attending the annual UN General Assembly meeting of leaders. He spent extensive time with Kerry, and met President Obama and Susan Rice, the National Security Adviser, at the White House.

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Among the topics discussed were Obama's Beijing visit next month for the Asia-Pacific Leaders Summit to deepen the ties between the two nations.

Kerry told Wang that the U.S. wanted a "new model of relationship" between the two nations, echoing a phrase often used by Beijing to describe the bilateral ideal.

As regards Hong Kong, Kerry said Hong Kong authorities should exercise restraint and allow the protesters to express themselves peacefully.

Kerry said the U.S. supported universal suffrage in the former British colony in compliance with the agreement signed with Great Britain in 1997. The U.S. wanted an open society, which was key to maintaining peace and stability in Hong Kong, he said.

White House officials received an online petition with almost 200,000 signatures -- twice as many as needed to generate a response -- asking Obama to press China on Hong Kong democracy.

Responding to the petition, the White House went beyond previous official U.S. statements, saying the legitimacy of Hong Kong leadership would be enhanced by having an independent choice of candidates, rather than by a candidate chosen by the Communist Party.

However, Wang said other nations should respect the fact that Hong Kong was an internal Chinese issue. He said China and the U.S. shared more in common than they had differences.

Kerry also said the U.S. welcomed China's rise as a peaceful, prosperous and stable nation. He took special recognition of China's stepping up to fight the Ebola virus.

China had contributed personnel and equipment into the challenge in Africa, which was very positive with respect to China's important world leadership role, Kerry said.

TagsJohn Kerry, Hong Kong, Obama, democracy protests, susan rice, diplomacy, U.N