17 mins ago – 6.53AM Washington | Secretary of State Antony Blinken had “candid, substantive, and constructive” talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, the State Department said, as the US looked to project a positive tone about his visit amid a push to stabilise strained ties. Discussions between the delegations led by Mr Blinken and Foreign Minister Qin Gang lasted five and a half hours — much longer than planned, officials said. In a further signal that the two sides may be restoring some normalcy to relations, Mr Qin accepted Mr Blinken’s invitation to visit Washington at “a mutually...