Rubio meets China's Wang

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday he had “positive and constructive” talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as the two major powers vied to push their agendas in Asia at a time of tension over Washington's tariff offensive.

- REUTERS

The top US diplomat was in Malaysia on his first Asia trip since taking office, seeking to stress the United States’ commitment to the region at the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, where many countries were reeling from a raft of steep US tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump this week.

Rubio had his first in-person talks with the Chinese foreign minister, coming as Beijing has warned the United States against reinstating hefty levies on its goods next month and threatened retaliation against nations that strike deals with the US to cut China out of supply chains.