United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who recently concluded his three-day visit to China, raised concerns about China's support to Russian military.

United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who recently concluded his three-day visit to China, raised concerns about China's support to Russian military. He raised this matter during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday (Apr 26), news agency Reuters reported. "I reiterated our serious concern about the PRC (People's Republic of China) providing components that are powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine," Blinken said during a press conference at the end of his China visit. However, the US Secretary of State did not respond to a question on whether Washington would impose sanctions on China's support for Russia, reported the news agency. “China has demonstrated in the past when it comes to Russia and Ukraine, that it can take positive action. You'll recall that while over a year ago we had concerns that Russia was considering the possible use of a nuclear weapon, and I believe that China's voice was important at least at that time, in moving Russia away from that possible course of action,” Blinken added. During China visit, Blinken meets Xi Antony Blinken embarked on a three-day visit to China on Wednesday, to meet President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese officials. During the meeting (with Blinken), Xi said that China and US should be partners and not rivals. Also watch | Blinken says China can help 'calm tensions' in West Asia × "Mutually gain achievements, not hurt each other. Both countries should seek common ground while reserving differences instead of vicious competition. Both sides should keep their word, instead of saying one thing and doing another," Xi added. "The global situation is constantly changing. With China-US increasing dialogue, managing differences and promoting cooperation, is not only the general aspiration of the two peoples (something the people of both countries want to see), but also what the rest of the world anticipates. I have said many times, that the world is big enough to accommodate both the US and Chinese development. China is happy to see a self-confident, open, prosperous and developing United States," the further said. Blinken, meanwhile, said, "President Biden asked me to return here to follow up on the important agenda that will set deeper cooperation as well as to manage responsibly the differences that we have. I think we’ve seen progress in various cooperation, particularly in military-to-military communication, counter-narcotics, the future of artificial intelligence, and we will keep on strengthening our people-to-people ties." Blinken also pointed out that the US and China should deal responsibly with "our differences so we avoid any miscommunication, any misconceptions, any miscalculations." 'US has seen evidence of China attempting to influence polls' On Friday, Blinken said that Washington had seen evidence of Chinese attempts to influence the upcoming US presidential elections. Also read | Blinken says US has seen evidence of China meddling in presidential elections “We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and arguably interfere, and we want to make sure that that’s cut off as quickly as possible,” Blinken told CNN, adding, that any interference by Beijing in the elections was something that was totally unacceptable to the US. The US Secretary of State also said that there was concern about China and other countries playing on existing social divisions in the US in influencing campaigns. (With inputs from agencies)

During China visit, Antony Blinken confronts Beijing over its support to Russian military

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Thursday on the United States and China to manage their differences "responsibly" as he went on a charm offensive ahead of expected tough talks.

A day before meeting Beijing's top brass, Blinken visited the bustling metropolis of Shanghai where he sampled local food, watched a basketball game and strolled along the city's famous Bund promenade on the busy Huangpu River.

Visiting the local Communist Party leader in a reception room with sweeping views of the Shanghai skyline, Blinken said President Joe Biden was committed to "direct and sustained" dialogue between the world's two largest economies after years of mounting tension.

"I think it's important to underscore the value — in fact, the necessity -- of direct engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences, which are real, seeking to work through them," Blinken said.

"We have an obligation for our people — indeed an obligation to the world -- to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly," Blinken said.

The Chinese Communist Party secretary for Shanghai, Chen Jining, welcomed Blinken partly in English and spoke of the importance of US businesses to the city.

"Whether we choose cooperation or confrontation affects the well-being of both peoples, both countries and the future of humanity," Chen told him.

Shanghai, the country's financial capital, is often a stepping stone to power in China, with President Xi Jinping previously serving in the city.&nbsp;

China has not announced plans for Blinken to meet Xi, although on Blinken's last visit in June they saw each other in a meeting announced at the last minute.

Blinken, the first US Secretary of State in 14 years to visit Shanghai, opened his trip Wednesday evening at a restaurant serving steamed buns.&nbsp;

Sporting a tieless suit, he ate with his senior staff outside on wooden chairs in a shopping arcade as curious onlookers snapped pictures.

Blinken then went to a basketball stadium, watching a nail-biting playoff game between the Shanghai Sharks and Zhejiang Golden Bulls until the end.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Thursday on the United States and China to manage their differences "responsibly" as he went on a charm offensive ahead of expected tough talks.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Thursday on the United States and China to manage their differences "responsibly" as he went on a charm offensive ahead of expected tough talks. A day before meeting Beijing's top brass, Blinken visited the bustling metropolis of Shanghai where he sampled local food, watched a basketball game and strolled along the city's famous Bund promenade on the busy Huangpu River. Visiting the local Communist Party leader in a reception room with sweeping views of the Shanghai skyline, Blinken said President Joe Biden was committed to "direct and sustained" dialogue between the world's two largest economies after years of mounting tension. "I think it's important to underscore the value — in fact, the necessity -- of direct engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences, which are real, seeking to work through them," Blinken said. "We have an obligation for our people — indeed an obligation to the world -- to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly," Blinken said. The Chinese Communist Party secretary for Shanghai, Chen Jining, welcomed Blinken partly in English and spoke of the importance of US businesses to the city. "Whether we choose cooperation or confrontation affects the well-being of both peoples, both countries and the future of humanity," Chen told him. Shanghai, the country's financial capital, is often a stepping stone to power in China, with President Xi Jinping previously serving in the city. China has not announced plans for Blinken to meet Xi, although on Blinken's last visit in June they saw each other in a meeting announced at the last minute. Blinken, the first US Secretary of State in 14 years to visit Shanghai, opened his trip Wednesday evening at a restaurant serving steamed buns. Sporting a tieless suit, he ate with his senior staff outside on wooden chairs in a shopping arcade as curious onlookers snapped pictures. Blinken then went to a basketball stadium, watching a nail-biting playoff game between the Shanghai Sharks and Zhejiang Golden Bulls until the end.

Blinken calls for US, China to manage differences 'responsibly'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in Beijing, addressed a press conference on Monday (June 19) following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in Beijing, addressed a press conference on Monday (June 19) following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the conference, Blinken said that the US and China both want to stabilise ties. "In every meeting, I stressed that direct engagement and sustained communication at senior levels is the best way to responsibly manage differences and ensure that competition does not veer into conflict," Blinken told reporters. "I heard the same from my Chinese counterparts. We both agree on the need to stabilise our relationship," he added. Blinken said the US was clear-eyed about the challenges posed by China, adding, "We have no illusions about the challenges of managing this relationship. There are many issues on which we profoundly -- even vehemently -- disagree." He also raised concerns with Beijing on Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. US does not support independence of Taiwan: Blinken The US secretary of state repeated that Washington did not support the independence of Taiwan and stood by its stance of maintaining the status quo. "At the same time, we and many others have deep concerns about some of the provocative actions that China has taken in recent years going back to 2016," Blinken told reporters. During the meeting between Blinken and Xi, the Chinese president urged the US not to "hurt China's legitimate rights and interests", a sign towards potential flashpoints such as Taiwan. Also read | US-China ties: Blinken, Qin hold ‘candid,’ ‘constructive’ talks, agree to meet again in Washington Meanwhile, amid the ongoing Russian offensive in Ukraine, Antony Blinken told reporters that China renewed promises not to send lethal arms to Russia. "We -- and other countries -- have received assurances from China that it is not and will not provide lethal assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine," he said. Xi meets Blinken, says US & China made progress on many issues Before Blinken's press conference, he met Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Blinken became the first US secretary of state to meet the Chinese President since 2018. President Xi told Blinken he hoped that the American diplomat's visit to China would stabilise ties between Beijing and Washington. Xi also said that US and China made progress on many issues. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US, China want to stabilise relationship, says Blinken after meeting Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (June 19) that he hoped the American diplomat's visit to China would stabilise ties between Beijing and Washington.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (June 19) that he hoped the American diplomat's visit to China would stabilise ties between Beijing and Washington. Xi, who met Blinken in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, said, "I hope that through this visit, Mr Secretary, you will make more positive contributions to stabilizing China-US relations," the news agency Reuters reported. Following the meeting, Xi also said that US and China made progress on many issues. "The Chinese side has made our position clear and the two sides have agreed to follow through the common understandings President Biden and I had reached in Bali," the Chinese president told Blinken. Blinken first US Secretary of State to meet Xi since 2018 Antony Blinken became the first US Secretary of State to meet the Chinese president since 2018. This 10-hour meeting comes after Blinken held extensive discussions with China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday, and foreign minister Qin Gang on Sunday. Also read | US-China ties: Blinken, Qin hold ‘candid,’ ‘constructive’ talks, agree to meet again in Washington During over three hours of talks with Blinken, Wang described the US-China relationship as being at a low point and said the reason for this was Washington's wrong perception of Beijing. "We must take a responsible attitude toward the people, history and the world, and reverse the downward spiral of US-China relations," Wang said during his meeting with the US Secretary of State, according to a statement released by China's foreign ministry. The top Chinese diplomat urged the US to stop speculating on threats from China, abandon its "suppression" of China's scientific and technological development, and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs. During the meeting with Chinese foreign minister Gang, Blinken stressed "the need to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation." Blinken's visit to pave way for more bilateral meetings Though American officials had been playing down the prospect of a major breakthrough in talks during Blinken's China visit, they expected that the visit would pave the way for more bilateral meetings in coming months, including possible trips by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The concerns of the officials came following a security call between Blinken and Gang, where the Chinese foreign minister urged the US to stop meddling in China's affairs and harming its security. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Hope Blinken's China visit would stabilise ties between Beijing, Washington: Chinese prez Xi