'NEGATIVE FACTORS BUILDING IN US-CHINA TIES': WANG TELLS BLINKEN

NEW DELHI: China on Friday urged US secretary of state Antony Blinken to confront the escalating disagreements between the two nations or face the consequences of a "downward spiral," following several months of attempts to mitigate tensions.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in the capital's ancient gardens told Blinken that relations between the world's two largest economies were "beginning to stabilise", especially after Biden and President Xi Jinping met in November near San Francisco.

"But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building," Wang said.

Saying that China "advocated respect for each other's core interests", he demanded that the United States not "trample on China's red line" on sovereignty, security and development.

"China's legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges," he said.

Blinken expressed optimism for constructive dialogue as he commenced discussions with China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi.

As he opened the meeting with Wang, Blinken said he would be "very clear, very direct", but added, "I hope we make some progress on the issues our presidents agreed" on at the California summit.

Blinken said the United States and China needed to show that they are "managing responsibly the most consequential relationship, I think, for both of us in the world".

The two countries should be as "clear as possible about the areas where we have differences -- at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations", Blinken said.