Chinese Vice Premier Liu He (L) shakes hands with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (R) alongside US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (C) as Liu leaves the Office of the United States Trade Representative after trade negotiations in Washington, DC, May 10, 2019.

Top U.S. trade officials spoke with their Chinese counterparts Tuesday as Washington and Beijing work to iron out a trade deal.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke to Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and Commerce Minister Zhong Shan "to continue negotiations aimed at resolving the outstanding trade disputes" between the world's two largest economies, according to a U.S. official. The official said "both sides will continue these talks as appropriate."

China's Ministry of Commerce confirmed that the call took place in a statement issued Wednesday morning local time.

The call continues a fresh round of engagement between the U.S. and China as they try to avoid widening a damaging trade war. Late last month, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the G-20 summit in Japan and agreed not to levy new tariffs.