VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, seen introducing President Joe Biden at the State Department on Feb 4, 2021, has offered a tough tone in his first talks with China. (Photo: AFP/SAUL LOEB)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in a phone call on Friday (Feb 5) the United States will stand up for human rights and democratic values in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, the State Department said.

Blinken also pressed China to condemn the military coup in Myanmar, and he reaffirmed that Washington will work with allies to hold China accountable for efforts to threaten stability of the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait, the department said in a statement.

The relationship between the world's two biggest economies hit its lowest point in decades during the presidency of Donald Trump, and Chinese officials have expressed cautious optimism that it would improve under the administration of Joe Biden.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also said on Friday that "the common interests of the two countries outweighed their differences" and urged the United States to "meet China halfway" to improve relations//CNA