BANGKOK, Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan held constructive discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during meetings in Bangkok, where they agreed to keep communication channels open and manage competition between their countries, the White House said on Saturday.

"Mr. Sullivan stressed that although the United States and China are in competition, both countries need to prevent it from veering into conflict or confrontation," the White House said in a statement. (Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng in Bangkok and Martin Petty; Liangping Gao in Beijing; Writing by Martin Petty, Editing by William Maclean)