BEIJING, June 18 — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held "candid, substantive, and constructive” talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing today, the US State Department said.

"The Secretary emphasised the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, adding that Blinken invited Qin to Washington to continue discussions. — Reuters