Mike Pompeo's visit to China kicks off with frosty exchange with counterpart Wang Yi

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi took each other to task amid worsening bilateral relations. PHOTO: REUTERS

BEIJING (REUTERS) - A meeting of top United States and Chinese diplomats got off to a frosty start on Monday (Oct 8), with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi airing grievances amid worsening bilateral relations.

While the exchange included typical diplomatic pleasantries, and the two officials emphasised the need for cooperation, their remarks before journalists at the start of their meeting at Beijing's Diaoyutai Guest House were unusually pointed.

"Recently, as the US side has been constantly escalating trade friction towards China, it has also adopted a series of actions on the Taiwan issue that harm China's rights, and has made groundless criticism of China's domestic and foreign policies," Mr Wang said at the joint appearance with Mr Pompeo.

"We believe this has been a direct attack on our mutual trust, and has cast a shadow on China-US relations," Mr Wang said. "We demand that the US side stop this kind of mistaken action," he said.

Mr Pompeo, who was briefing Mr Wang following his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said: "The issues that you characterised we have a fundamental disagreement. We have great concerns about the actions that China has taken, and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss each of those today because this is an incredibly important relationship."

A senior US State Department official said the United States still expected cooperation with Beijing on efforts to denuclearise North Korea, whose chief ally is China.

"I would certainly expect so," the official said. "That's a very important issue and they recognise that and accept that and realize that."

Mr Pompeo and Mr Wang openly disagreed over which side had called off a bilateral security dialogue that had been due to take place in Beijing this month.

Last week, Vice President Mike Pence stepped up the US pressure campaign against Beijing, going beyond the trade war by accusing China of both "malign" efforts to undermine President Donald Trump ahead of next month's congressional elections and of reckless military action in the South China Sea.

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