Blinken’s trip was originally scheduled for February but was postponed at the last minute due to a row over a Chinese balloon flying over the United States.
During his trip, which runs until June 19, Blinken is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, senior Chinese official Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping. Both countries say they want to ensure that the strategic rivalry between the two countries does not escalate into armed conflict.
Global attention
It will be a journey that will also be closely watched by the rest of the world, as any escalation between the superpowers could have global consequences for financial markets and trade, among other things.
In a conversation with Blinken last week, Qin Gang complained that relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the beginning of this year because of the United States. “Both sides recognize that we need high-level communication channels,” a senior US official told Reuters news agency on his way to Beijing.