Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, who on Monday met with the US State Secretary Antony Blinken in Beijing, called the meeting “very good”, noting “progress” and an agreement on “some specific issues”. 

"Relations between countries should always be based on mutual respect and sincerity," he said, adding the Blinken's visit would help "stabilise" bilateral ties. 

This was Blinken’s first visit to China since 2018, on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and came after two days of intense bilateral diplomatic efforts.

The news of the meeting between Jinping and Blinken was seen as an extraordinary gesture and a sign that Beijing was seeking to defuse rising tensions between the rival powers.

On Monday, Blinken also met with China's top foreign policy official, Wang Yi, who ranks above Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing's power hierarchy.

According to state media, Wang said Blinken's visit came at a "critical moment in China-US relations" which are on a "downward spiral” and called on Washington to stop spreading the "China threat theory", Chinese media reported.

On Sunday, Blinken spoke with Foreign Minister Gang for seven and a half hours - much longer than planned. During their meeting, Blinken reiterated the US aspired to a "vision of a world that is free, open, and recognises an order based on international rules." 

Blinken invited Gang to Washington. Both sides said the talks were “sincere and constructive”.