U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing on Sunday, becoming the first top American diplomat to visit China in nearly five years, in a bid to tamp down soaring tensions between the two superpowers.
Blinken, Qin and a coterie of officials from both sides held talks, with a smaller meeting and dinner also planned, after a scheduled February visit to Beijing was canceled when it was revealed that a suspected Chinese spy balloon had been flying over the U.S.
Qin greeted Blinken at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guest House, as the two made small talk in English before shaking hands in front of Chinese and American flags before kicking off their meeting.