US Senior Diplomat to Visit China on June 5-6 for Strategic Dialogue

US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head the American delegation during a trip to China to discuss regional and global strategic and economic issues.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Blinken is travelling to China on Sunday to lead the US delegation in a scheduled bilateral security dialogue, the Department of State announced in a media note.

"Blinken will travel to Beijing, China, on June 5-6, 2016, to lead the US delegation to the sixth US-China Strategic Security Dialogue (SSD) and to participate in the eighth US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED)," the note said on Thursday.

The US delegation to the talks will also include Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs David Shear and Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance Frank Rose, the note stated.

State Department Coordinator for Cyber Issues Chris Painter and US Pacific Command Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Anthony Crutchfield will also participate, the note added.

China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui will host the SSD, during which senior civilian and military officials will exchange views on a range of security issues of strategic importance to both countries, the note pointed out.