As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up his first day of negotiations in Beijing, the United States and China were unable to come to an agreement on their most pressing differences but engaged in a potentially fruitful conversation and decided to continue their dialogue.
During the almost 6-hour conversation with Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang promised to travel to Washington, D.C., but the Chinese Foreign Ministry continued to claim that ties between the United States and China are "at the lowest point since the start of diplomatic relations."
The two sides engaged in "candid, in-depth, and constructive dialogue on the overall relationship between China and the United States and associated key problems," the ministry added.
But according to The Associated Press, neither party made any indications that they would budge from their stances.
Under the Biden administration, Blinken is the top American official to visit China. After the United States shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had travelled over most of the continental United States earlier this year, Blinken had to postpone his trip to Beijing.
On Monday, the secretary of state is anticipated to meet with more top Chinese officials, potentially including Xi Jinping. The discussions could make it possible for Biden and Xi to meet in the upcoming months.
During the almost 6-hour conversation with Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang promised to travel to Washington, D.C., but the Chinese Foreign Ministry continued to claim that ties between the United States and China are "at the lowest point since the start of diplomatic relations."
The two sides engaged in "candid, in-depth, and constructive dialogue on the overall relationship between China and the United States and associated key problems," the ministry added.
But according to The Associated Press, neither party made any indications that they would budge from their stances.
Under the Biden administration, Blinken is the top American official to visit China. After the United States shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had travelled over most of the continental United States earlier this year, Blinken had to postpone his trip to Beijing.
On Monday, the secretary of state is anticipated to meet with more top Chinese officials, potentially including Xi Jinping. The discussions could make it possible for Biden and Xi to meet in the upcoming months.
