U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Speaks With Chinas Foreign Minister Before Weekend Visit

CNN: Blinken speaks with Chinese foreign minister ahead of expected high-stakes visit to Beijing

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with China’s foreign minister by phone on Wednesday, a call that comes ahead of a highly anticipated visit by Washington’s top diplomat to Beijing as the two superpowers try to improve the dismal state of their ties.

In his call with Qin Gang, Blinken discussed “the importance of maintaining open lines of communication” to responsibly manage US-China relations to “avoid miscalculation and conflict,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Blinken also addressed a range of bilateral and global issues, and made clear “the US would continue to use diplomatic engagements to raise areas of concern as well as areas of potential cooperation,” according to the statement.

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WNU Editor: Apparently the phone call did not go well .... China rebukes US in phone call ahead of Blinken's Beijing trip (Reuters). Not surprising, the U.S. is now downplaying expectations .... US plays down chance of breakthrough from Blinken China visit after tense call (Reuters).

style="font-size:large;">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Speaks With China’s Foreign Minister Before Weekend Visit

Blinken heads to China this weekend on mission to salvage sinking ties and keep communications open -- The Hill/AP

Blinken to travel to China this weekend as US looks to reset relations after spy balloon incident -- CNN

Top US Diplomat Heading to China to Stabilize Ties -- VOA

Secretary of State Blinken to travel to China this weekend -- Daily Mail

Blinken to travel to China after foreign minister tells him to 'show respect' in phone call -- FOX News

Blinken will make long-delayed China trip this week -- Axios

Blinken reschedules trip to China for this week after postponing for months over spy balloon -- CNBC

US confirms top diplomat Blinken’s long-anticipated China visit -- Al Jazeera