New Delhi, Oct. 6 -- The United States and China are discussing the possibility of allowing officials to visit each other's nuclear facilities, a tentative move that could provide a rare measure of transparency between two countries increasingly concerned about the risks of a new nuclear arms race.

The discussions remain informal and preliminary, according to people familiar with the matter cited by CNN. Washington intends to keep pressing the idea during meetings with Chinese officials over the coming months.

The proposal is notable because it did not originate solely in Washington. A Chinese side initially raised the possibility during meetings with US officials earlier this year, according to CNN. Discussions have included potential ...