WASHINGTON - The United States, Japan and India held their first trilateral dialogue here on Monday over a "wide range" of regional and global issues of common interest.

"These discussions mark the beginning of a series of consultations among our three governments, who share common values and interests across the Asia-Pacific and the globe," the State Department said in a statement.

Responding to the prevailing assumption that the meeting was aimed at containing China, Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell dismissed the idea as "preposterous."

Campbell said they would discuss at the event a number of issues, including "larger and strategic development in Asia," related to economy and military.

The assistant-secretary level meeting was co-chaired by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, who is on a three-day visit in the United States, said his meeting with his US counterpart Hillary Clinton has affirmed that "Japan and the United States are deepening a strategic relationship with India."

He called the trilateral dialogue "a specific example of collaboration."

The three nations agreed to meet again in Tokyo in 2012 to continue their deliberations.