Antony Blinken and Xi Jinping hold ‘candid’talks in Beijing

Meeting between China's president and US secretary of state takes place at time of heightened tension

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has wrapped up a rare trip to Beijing where he met China's president, Xi Jinping, concluding a high-stakes visit aimed at stabilising spiralling relations.

Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing before his departure, Blinken said he had an important conversation" with Xi during the 35-minute encounter and stressed it was the responsibility of both countries to find a path forward.