Top US diplomat to meet Chinese President in bid to ease tensions

US secretary of state Antony Blinken shakes hands with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi (Pool via AP)

US secretary of state Antony Blinken will meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Monday as America’s top diplomat wrapped up a two-day visit to Beijing aimed at easing soaring tensions.

A Blinken-Xi meeting had been expected, but neither side had confirmed it would happen until about an hour before the talks, which are seen as key to the success of the trip.