SHANGHAI (Reuters). – Chinese regulators work hard with their U.S counterparts to settle an audit dispute affecting U.S. companies listed on Chinese stock exchanges. The goal is to have effective and long-lasting cooperation, a state newspaper reported Sunday.

According to a Chinese source, China Securities Journal reports that the China Securities Regulatory Commission was able to hear opinions from U.S.-listed Chinese firms during an online meeting held on Sunday.

According to the source, “Both the U.S. and Chinese regulators are aware of one another’s concerns and are working toward the other and trying to find solutions in order to reach effective and sustained cooperation as soon as they can.”

“This is best for the capital markets of both nations and global investors.”

According to CSRC, recent discussions with U.S. regulators were efficient, honest, and professional.

These comments follow days of U.S. regulators declaring that media speculation about China’s imminent agreement was premature. It is still unclear whether the Chinese government will grant access as required under a U.S. listing law.

Washington demands complete access to U.S.-listed Chinese companies’ books, but Beijing blocks foreign inspection of local accounting firms’ working papers. This is a lengthy-running auditing dispute which puts at risk hundreds of billions in U.S. investment.

Chinese regulators have questioned some U.S.-listed companies, including Alibaba (NYSE:), Baidu NASDAQ:, and JD NASDAQ:.com to make sure they are prepared for further audit disclosures. Beijing is increasing efforts to maintain their New York listing, Reuters reported last Wednesday.

Bloomberg News and The Financial Times also reported this month, that China’s Securities watchdog was considering a proposal which would permit U.S. regulators inspect auditors’ working papers for certain companies in the first quarter of this year.

The CSRC warned market participants to not believe speculation from media that lacks knowledge about the direction and details of the talks. Such reports can cause market disruptions, according to the China Securities Journal on Sunday.