Despite the severe tensions between China and the United States, head of state and party leader Xi Jinping received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing this Monday. This was reported by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The unexpectedly announced meeting is unusual in terms of protocol. It can be understood as a special gesture towards the USA.

First visit by a US Secretary of State to China since 2018

The first visit by a US Secretary of State to China since 2018 comes amid deep differences between the rival great powers. It is about trade issues between the world’s two largest economies, but also about politics towards Taiwan and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.