The United States has concluded the sixth round of bilateral talks with China, what is otherwise known as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. During the talks, both sides discussed economic issues as well as security concerns, primarily cybersecurity.

The talks began on Wednesday, July 9, ending the following day, and were held in Beijing. The S&ED began in 2009 and have been conducted between the two countries since then. Secretary of State John Kerry and other cabinet members met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to USA Today. The two countries discussed future cooperation but there was also a mist of tension surrounding the proceedings.

"Let me emphasize to you today: the U.S. does not seek to contain China," said Kerry. Many in China believe the U.S. is trying to prevent China from rising and becoming a more influential world player. However, China's recent aggressive maneuvers in the region have made many of America's allies nervous.

In response, Xi warned against U.S. "must respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and said China is committed to "peaceful development." However, China's actions may not translate to peaceful relations. USA Today reports that the U.S. representatives could discuss both cybersecurity and the value of the Yuan, which China is believed to undervalue to benefit Chinese companies.

The issue of cybersecurity, however, has proven to be a hot topic. Five Chinese military officers have been charged with hacking into computers belonging to American companies and giving information to Chinese competitors. According to the AP, Secretary Kerry brought up the topic on Thursday.

"We did not raise it in specific terms. We raised the subject, obviously," Kerry told reporters. However, the U.S. delegations learned about new accusations after the meeting.

The New York Times reports that hackers believed to be nongovernment agents attempted to obtain information on U.S. government personnel. The hackers broke through to personnel files of U.S. federal employees applying for top-secret security clearance

However, Kerry lamented the loss of intellectual property through hacking, which has had "a chilling effect on innovation and investment," according to the AP. His Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, said cybersecurity is a "common threat facing all countries" but added, "Cyberspace should not become a tool for damaging the interests of other countries."