US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday at the start of the second and final day of a rare visit to Beijing, aimed at ensuring that the many disagreements between the strategic rivals do not spiral into conflict.

The two top diplomats shook hands in front of Chinese and US flags at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, before moving into a meeting room with their delegations. They did not make any remarks beyond exchanging pleasantries.

All eyes will be on whether Blinken will also meet with President Xi Jinping later in the day.

Making the first visit to China by a US secretary of state in five years, Blinken held more than seven hours of "candid" and "constructive" talks with Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, although they did not appear to make concrete progress on the wide ranging disputes ranging from trade to technology to Taiwan.

Both sides expressed a desire to stabilise bilateral ties despite what one US official called their "profound" differences, and agreed that Qin would visit Washington to continue the conversation, though no date was announced.

Behind closed doors, Qin told Blinken that relations between the United States and China "are at the lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic relations", according to state-run broadcaster CCTV.

"This does not conform to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, nor does it meet the common expectations of the international community," Qin said during the talks at the ancient gardens.

He also issued a warning on Taiwan, saying "The Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests, the most important issue in China-US relations and the most prominent risk."

In an editorial published on Monday, the state-run Global Times said, "Despite very low expectations for any breakthroughs made during Blinken's visit to China, there is still hope that both sides can maintain their 'bottom line' in the relationship.” (Agencies)