US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) and Yang Jiechi, Head of the Communist Party of China’s Office of Foreign Affairs. (photo: Mandel Ngan)

The US State Department has not confirmed the meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Yang Jiechi, Head of the Communist Party of China’s Office of Foreign Affairs. Spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zhao Lijian said at a regular briefing in Beijing on Monday that the two countries have maintained communication in diplomatic channels, without elaborating.

In another development, the US and China will each allow four weekly flights between the two countries. In a statement, the US Transportation Department said it will continue to press for the full restoration of passenger air travel between the US and China. As the Chinese government allows more flights by US carriers, the US will reciprocate, it said. 

Before that the US had threatened to stop all passenger flights from and to China from Tuesday to respond to China’s restriction of American airlines.