Beijing ? Beijing and Washington have wrapped up their first meeting aimed at resolving safety problems with Chinese products, a step that one expert said Friday was crucial if China wanted to protect its image abroad and preserve stability at home.

The two governments said late Thursday that they have pledged to cooperate more closely on product and food safety following a visit by U.S. health officials this week that coincided with the recall of nearly 1 million Chinese-produced toys tainted with lead paint.

“Our vision … aims to increase cooperation and information-sharing between the U.S. and Chinese governments on these safety issues,” Mike Leavitt, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, said in a statement. Officials will meet again this month in Beijing.