State Department calls Blinken’s talks with Chinese Foreign Minister constructive

Today’s talks between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang were frank, meaningful and constructive, reported State Department press office.

“The Secretary stressed the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the spectrum of issues to reduce the risk of misperceptions and miscalculations,” the statement said.

Blinken raised a number of “problematic issues” during the meeting and signaled that Washington will continue to work with its allies to advance its vision of a free and open world “supporting an international order based on rules.” The Secretary of State also invited his interlocutor to the US to continue negotiations.

Blinken’s arrival in Beijing was announced earlier today. This is the first visit to China by a senior American diplomat in five years. The trip was supposed to take place back in February, but fell through due to an incident with a balloon in US airspace.

Blinken is also expected to meet with senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi and possibly Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Secretary of State intends to “establish open and reliable channels of communication so that the strategic rivalry between the two countries does not escalate into conflict,” the media reported.

Prior to leaving for Beijing, the Secretary of State had previously said his trip had three main objectives: building mechanisms for crisis management, advancing the interests of the United States and its allies by discussing relevant issues, and exploring areas of potential cooperation. Blinken also said he intends to raise the issue of the Americans detained in the country on charges that Washington considers politically motivated. The parties also plan to discuss the possibility of increasing commercial flights between the two countries.