China-US Relations: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets Chinese FM Wang Yi in Washington

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Turning to trade relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington. Several issues are at stake, including trade tensions, the DPRK, and concerns over the South China Sea. Omar Khan has more.

China is being excluded from the world's largest naval exercises. 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. 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 to take back an invitation to the Chinese military for the RIMPAC exercise, we find that to not be constructive. On the so-called militarization in the South China Sea, China is building some civilian and other necessary defense facilities on its own islands. That is the right to self-defense and preservation of any sovereign state."

Wang and Pompeo also talked about the planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the 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. Also the issue of Taiwan was pulled up, though Pompeo has clearly said there is no change to the one-China policy.

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." 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. Omar Khan, CGTN.