China and the United States have cooperated well on the subject of worker's rights, and Beijing is prepared to deepen that cooperation, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement posted on its Web site (www.mofcom.gov.cn).

"The Chinese government supports communication, cooperation and dialogue to probe and solve Sino-U.S. issues of concern," it said, citing spokesman Chong Quan, who also defended China's record of protecting labour rights.

"China thinks that drawing up policies and measures that accord with its national condition and can effectively protect the legal rights of workers, benefits the harmonious development of Chinese society," he said.