US and China pledge to stabilise tense relationship after talks

The US and China person pledged to stabilise their tense narration pursuing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's two-day sojourn to Beijing.

Mr Blinken met China's President Xi Jinping for talks connected Monday, restarting high-level communications betwixt the rival superpowers.

Mr Xi said they had made progress, portion Mr Blinken indicated that some sides were unfastened to further talks.

But the apical US diplomat made wide that determination remained large differences.

"I stressed that... sustained connection astatine elder levels is the champion mode to responsibly negociate differences and guarantee that contention does not veer into conflict," Mr Blinken told reporters aft the 35-minute gathering astatine the Great Hall of the People connected Tiananmen Square.

"I heard the aforesaid from my Chinese counterparts," helium said. "We some hold connected the request to stabilise our relationship."

But Mr Blinken, 61, said helium was "clear-eyed" astir China and determination were "many issues connected which we profoundly - adjacent vehemently - disagree".

Relations betwixt Beijing and Washington person plummeted successful the aftermath of a Trump-era commercialized war, Beijing's assertive claims implicit Taiwan and the shooting down of an alleged Chinese spy balloon implicit the US earlier this year.

But Mr Xi suggested relations could beryllium moving successful a affirmative direction.

"The 2 sides person besides made advancement and reached statement connected immoderate circumstantial issues," helium said, successful a transcript of his remarks released by the US authorities department. "This is precise good."

The gathering with Mr Xi was not primitively connected Mr Blinken's docket and was lone announced an hr earlier it took place.

Instead, the Americans volition beryllium capable to constituent to the secretary's sojourn arsenic a palmy re-engagement with the Chinese authorities aft months of frosty relations.

Mr Xi was besides sending a connection to his ain radical that his authorities was reaching retired to Washington.

"It is perfectly captious that we person these kinds of communications," Mr Blinken said. "This is thing we're going to support moving on."

US President Joe Biden and officials successful Washington person said they presumption the Chinese arsenic rivals and competitors and not adversaries. It is simply a good enactment to walk, however, arsenic the contention - some militarily and economically - heats up.