20240430 Blinken and Xi Jinping main

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing in June 2023, left, and then again in April 2024. Notice the difference in indoor plants from one meeting to the next. (Source photos by Reuters)

Analysis: Xi Jinping sends a message but no flowers to Antony Blinken

China's symbolism indicates that relations with U.S. are deteriorating further

Katsuji Nakazawa is a Tokyo-based senior staff and editorial writer at Nikkei. He spent seven years in China as a correspondent and later as China bureau chief. He was the 2014 recipient of the Vaughn-Ueda International Journalist prize.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made two China visits within 10 months, both culminating in high-profile meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The first came last June and the second last week, both being held in the Fujian Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

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