(VOVWORLD) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, wrapping up a rare and pivotal trip to Beijing that aimed at ensuring the many disputes between the superpowers do not spiral into conflict.
 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS) |
Blinken has become the first US secretary of state to meet the Chinese leader since 2018. The meeting, on the final day of Blinken's two-day visit, could help to facilitate a summit between Xi and US President Joe Biden later in the year.
"The two sides have had candid and in-depth discussions," President Xi said at the start of the meeting in comments broadcast on Chinese state television.
Earlier, Blinken held extensive discussions with China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday, and foreign minister Qin Gang on Sunday.
The talks did not appear to make much progress in bridging the two sides' differences on issues ranging from Taiwan to trade, human rights, or their approach to the conflict in Ukraine.