China said its Foreign Minister Wang Yi would visit Washington on Wednesday, as trade tensions ease but new strains arise over North Korea and Beijing’s military moves in the South China Sea.
“China and the US will exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest,” said foreign ministry spokesman lu Kang, announcing the visit on Tuesday.
Wang is stopping over in the US capital on his way home from Argentina, where he is attending a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting and has reportedly discussed contentious South China Sea issues with some of his counterparts. Tensions have risen since China flew nuclear-capable bombers to a disputed island in the South China Sea last week.