The top US diplomat met China's president at a time when both sides have acknowledged relations are poor.

Summary so far:

  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met China’s President Xi Jinping as he wraps up a two-day visit to Beijing
  • Blinken says he and Xi had “robust conversation” about global affairs, including Russia’s “war of aggression against Ukraine”
  • He says he has been seeking to “disabuse” China of the notion the US is “seeking to economically contain them”
  • Blinken reiterates that the US does not support Taiwan’s independence - stating it does not wish to change the status quo
  • Alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, as well as the issue of North Korea, were also raised
  • Blinken says some parts of the talks were “constructive”, but adds there is “work to do” in other areas
  • Blinken earlier spent hours in meetings with Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Qin Gang
  • China-US ties have steadily declined due to trade conflicts, tensions over human rights, and Taiwan - among other issues