(March 11): A Chinese semiconductor industry group says it has agreed to work with its U.S. counterpart on chip-related issues, a rare example of bilateral cooperation in an area that has become a focal point of tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The China Semiconductor Industry Association said Thursday in a statement on its website that it will form a working group with Washington, D.C.-based Semiconductor Industry Association. Ten chip companies from each nation will meet twice a year to discuss policies ranging from export curbs to supply-chain safety and encryption technology, the statement said.