Antony Blinken and Qin Gang call meeting in Beijing ‘constructive’ and agree to continue talking

Four months after cancelling his trip to Beijing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in the Chinese capital in a push to ease tensions between the two countries that both sides called "constructive" and ended with an agreement to continue discussions in Washington.

The talks at the Diaoyutai State Guest House lasted 5 and a half hours, and were described by the US State Department as "candid, substantive, and constructive". Chinese state broadcaster CCTV called them "candid, in-depth and constructive communication on the overall relationship".

"The Secretary emphasised the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a readout.