China's foreign minister: Relations with the US are at an all-time low

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said after talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that relations between the two countries were at their lowest point in more than 40 years. However, the US State Department described the talks as "open".

U.S.-China relations are currently in the worst state since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979. This was stated by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang after talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing. He said:

"Currently, relations between China and the United States are at their lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. This is not in the interest of the people of China and the United States."

He cited the Taiwan issue as the most important problem in relations between the two countries. Qin Gang stressed that Beijing has urged Washington to adhere to the one-China principle, according to which Taiwan is not an independent state, but a part of the People's Republic of China.

The U.S. State Department described the talks between Blinken and his Chinese counterpart as "open, factual and constructive." The US Secretary of State said at the meeting that both sides should keep diplomatic communication channels open on all issues "to reduce the risk of miscalculation." The leaders discussed "issues of concern" and cooperation in areas where the interests of the two countries overlap. They also pointed out the importance of promoting people-to-people exchanges in the U.S. and China. The U.S. agency's statement reads:

"The Foreign Minister has invited the State Council member and Foreign Minister Qin to Washington to continue the talks. They have agreed to arrange a return visit at a mutually acceptable time."

The U.S. State Department noted that Blinken had scheduled further meetings with Chinese officials for the second day of the visit, June 19. Reuters reported that the foreign minister may hold talks with Wang Yi, head of the office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and possibly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

From around the world