Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi begins a two-day visit to the United States on Thursday, at the invitation of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. As CGTN's Nathan King tells us this comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing are on the rise.

NATHAN KING WASHINGTON "Yang Jiechi's visit comes just days after U.S. President Trump labelled China and Russia as rivals in his State of the Union speech and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called China a new imperial power in Latin America. Trade tensions are also on the rise after the U.S. imposed tariffs on solar panels and cells-and is mulling further action over intellectual property and steel and aluminum imports. There are also continuing differences over how to handle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile program and new nuclear and security doctrines here in the US that labels China as a competitor. China has also launched an investigation into U.S. sorghum bean exports to China-worth over a billion dollars a year. Both sides have expressed the importance of the bilateral relationship and dialogue. Chinese Foreign Ministry officials say they hope the visit will focus on cooperation, and managing differences. Nathan King, CGTN Washington."