INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China and the United States agreed on Monday to stabilize their intense rivalry so it does not veer into conflict, but failed to produce any
major breakthrough during a rare visit to Beijing by United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed
&progress& after shaking hands with Blinken at the Great Hall of the People, a grand venue usually reserved for greeting heads of state,
Reuters reported.The top United States diplomat and Xi both stressed the importance of having a more stable relationship, as any conflict
between the world&s two largest economies would create global disruption.China refused to entertain Washington&s bid to resume
military-to-military communication channels, citing United States sanctions as the obstacle
The two sides appeared entrenched in their positions over everything from Taiwan to trade, including United States actions toward China&s
chip industry, human rights and Russia&s war against Ukraine.United States President Joe Biden said later on Monday he thinks relations
between the two countries are on the right path, and indicated that progress was made during Blinken&s trip.We&re on the right trail here,&
Biden said of United States -China relations
Asked by reporters during a trip to California whether he felt progress had been made, he replied, &I don''t feel,& he said
&You know it&s been made.Biden said of Blinken: &He did a hell of a job.At one of the most significant United States -China exchanges since
Biden took office, it was not clear how the countries would overcome their differences
The sides agreed to continue diplomatic engagement with more visits in the coming weeks and months.At a news conference concluding his
two-day trip to Beijing, the first by a United States secretary of state since 2018, Blinken said Washington had achieved its objectives
for the trip, including raising concerns directly, trying to set up channels for dialogue and exploring areas of cooperation
The trip was postponed in February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew through United States airspace.But he said progress was not
straightforward.The relationship was at a point of instability, and both sides recognized the need to work to stabilize it,& Blinken said
before leaving China.His meetings in Beijing, including talks with China&s top diplomat Wang Yi and foreign minister Qin Gang, had been
&candid and constructive,& Blinken added.The post Xi, Blinken agree to stabilize US-China relations in Beijing talks first appeared on
