Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Manila led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

The meeting on Wednesday is expected to set the stage for a visit by President Xi Jinping to the United States in September.

US President Donald Trump was on a visit to China in May that helped reset bilateral ties.

Wang said both sides viewed the meeting as practical, positive, and constructive, and agreed to make good preparations for the next stage of China-US high-level exchanges, Xinhua News Agency reported.

He also urged the US side to respect China's core interests, uphold the one-China principle, and to properly manage differences, Xinhua said.

Rubio for his part said he expects talks between the leaders to be positive.

"I think President Xi will have a very positive visit when [he] comes to Washington," Rubio told reporters in Manila, saying he and Wang had spoken at length, laying the groundwork for a fruitful trip.

Renewed Middle East hostilities and regional tensions were among the topics discussed at the broader Asean meeting.

The foreign minister said openness and inclusiveness are vital for prosperity.

Wang told his Asean counterparts that ties between people of the region and China are improving, and noted greater consensus on trade and issues of mutual benefit.

"China will continue to act with Asean on the principle of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, to carry out even closer cooperation for the benefit of the people in this region and to respond to emerging challenges and uncertainties with greater solidarity. Together, let us be the anchor for regional and global peace and development," he said.

On Iran, Rubio said Tehran's demand to control and collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz would threaten the world’s economy and the principle of freedom of navigation.

He also said Washington remains open to diplomacy to try to resolve the crisis. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2026-07-22 HKT 22:34


Edited by Edmond Fong