China is being excluded from the world's largest naval exercises after the US decided to withdraw its invitation to the RIMPAC gathering. This comes as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Washington to meet with US officials, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. CGTN's Nathan King has more.

Every two years, the U.S. Pacific Command hosts navies from dozens of countries. In 2014 and 2016, China was invited and conducted exercises alongside the U.S. and many other nations. It has built relationships and understanding. The decision to pull Beijing's invite came as China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Washington.

WANG YI CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER The Pentagon's decision or dis-invitation of Chinese military in the RIMPAC exercise, we find that as a very unconstructive move.

Foreign Minister Wang and Secretary Pompeo also talked about the planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong Un, scheduled to take place in less than three weeks. Pompeo expressed hope the summit will take place but doubts remain. Wang Yi said the U.S. must take Pyongyang's security guarantees into account.

MIKE POMPEO US SECRETARY OF STATE "We're still working, driving towards the date, hope that it takes place.  What I can say for sure is our team is preparing up and down the administration, President will absolutely be prepared for the meeting as well."

WANG YI CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER "We believe that in achieving the process or the goal of denuclearization it is necessary to address the legitimate security concerns of the DPRK. And I told our US colleagues that if you want to solve the problem, now is the time. If you want peace, now is the time. If you want to make history, now is the time."

Trade was also discussed ahead of U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross's visit to Beijing next week- no details on any potential deal were given. And both diplomats addressed the strange case of a U.S. government employee based in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, reportedly suffering a brain injury after hearing abnormal sounds. The U.S. State Department says it's similar to cases reported in Havana, Cuba more than a year ago. Both nations say they are investigating.

NATHAN KING WASHINGTON Despite the growing tensions in the China-U.S. relationship, the U.S. secretary of state described the conversations with Foreign Minister Wang Yi as wonderful. While that may be diplomatic license, Pompeo did stress how helpful China has been in trying to get the U.S. -DPRK summit on the right track. However, on many other issues from trade to tensions in the Pacific, the U.S. and China are still far apart. Nathan King, CGTN, Washington.