BEIJING (dpa-AFX) – The US State Department rated the talks between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang as open and constructive. Blinken addressed a number of conflicting issues during his first visit to China as US chief diplomat, but also areas where China and the United States could work together, the State Department said on Sunday.
In the conversation, which lasted several hours, Blinken confirmed that the United States was pursuing a vision of a world “that is free and open and that upholds the order based on international rules”. Blinken invited Qin to Washington for a return visit. A suitable time is being sought for this appointment, it said. Blinken’s visit continues on Monday. Details were not initially known.
For US President Joe Biden’s top diplomat, it is the first visit to China since he took office more than two years ago. Blinken is making up for a trip that was originally supposed to take place in February – but was canceled at short notice due to allegations of espionage against China.
At the beginning of their talks with their delegations, the two ministers sat opposite each other at two long tables in the Diaoyutai state guest house in Beijing. Further meetings with senior Chinese government officials are planned for Monday. There is also speculation that Blinken could hit state and party leader Xi Jinping. Initially, there was no confirmation from Beijing.
The relationship between the two countries is at a low point. China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, Beijing’s threats against the island’s democratic republic of Taiwan and the ongoing trade dispute between the two countries are causing contention. The Biden government sees China as the greatest geopolitical challenge and is taking a hard line. China, in turn, accuses the USA of hegemonic ambitions./scb/DP/he