US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble have met to discuss the eurozone crisis.
In a joint statement issued after the talks, the two stressed the need for "ongoing international cooperation and coordination" in the face of the eurozone debt crisis and faltering global growth.
The finance chiefs expressed confidence in the reforms put in place by the 17 members of the crisis-hit eurozone.
The statement said the two countries will "continue to cooperate closely" to stabilise the international economy.
The meeting comes as it appears the European Central Bank is set to resume its controversial practice of buying Spanish bonds in order to reduce the country's borrowing costs.
The interest rate being charged by investors to lend to Spain and Italy continued to fall today in expectation of such a move.
According to a spokeswoman for Mr Schaeuble, the talks were normal, informal discussions, taking place at the request of the US.
However, the meeting took on additional importance given the mounting expectation that the ECB is about to resume buying Spanish debt, possibly in coordination with the eurozone temporary bailout fund.
Bond buying is controversial in Germany, as it is perceived to be beyond the mandate of the ECB and does not solve the real problems facing Italy and Spain.
Mr Geithner also met the ECB President Mario Draghi this evening.
Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker earlier said that nobody should be left with any doubt about the determination of the eurozone to protect its currency by using all means possible.
In a series of interviews with German and French newspapers, Mr Juncker said: "We will work in close agreement with the ECB, and see results.
"I don't want to drive expectations, but I must say, we have reached a decisive phase."
A bailout of Spain would probably be double those of Greece, Ireland and Portugal combined.
The European Union has already agreed to lend up to €100bn to rescue Spanish banks.
