Beijing, Jun 18 (EFE).- United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China on Sunday, state broadcaster CGTN reported.

Blinken is the highest-ranking US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

After a year of tensions between the two powers, it remains to be seen if Blinken’s visit will serve to bring a thaw in the strained ties.

The secretary of state was scheduled to visit China in February, but the downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over US territory caused the visit to be canceled at the last moment.

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press conference that the two sides will deal with issues of “mutual concern” and that the Asian country will “firmly protect” its own interests.

Economic cooperation, the Ukraine conflict and Taiwan, among other things, are expected to be discussed during Blinken’s visit, according to local experts. EFE

aa/sc