CHINESE Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a meeting with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today, their first in-person encounter since the US secretary of state took office in January.

It took place as the White House continues to stoke tensions between the two nations and against a backdrop of global and regional unease over US policies, notably on trade and heavy tariffs that US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose on friend and foe alike.

Mr Trump has warned that he could impose massive tariffs that on Chinese exports to the US, but preliminary discussions between the two sides have so far led to agreement on a framework for future talks.

Mr Rubio described the meeting as “very constructive and positive,” saying that there were “areas of potential co-operation” with Washington.

Mr Wang is reported to have expressed the hope that the US would begin to view China with “an objective, rational and pragmatic attitude.”

Mr Rubio also indicated that Mr Trump was likely to visit China, saying: “I think both sides want to see it happen.”

On Thursday, Mr Wang met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with Moscow’s Foreign Ministry saying: “Russia and China are wary of certain major powers creating divisions and instigating confrontation in the region.”