Antony Blinken's Strategic Diplomatic Tour in Asia

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Asia, attending the East Asia Summit in Laos. He will participate in discussions with East Asian leaders, focusing on issues like U.S.-China relations. This visit marks his 19th trip to Asia in office, highlighting the U.S.'s focus on the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is gearing up for his 19th official trip to Asia, where he will lead the American delegation at the East Asia Summit in Laos this week.

The State Department announced that Blinken is stepping in for President Joe Biden at the annual summit hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Scheduled meetings in Laos' capital, Vientiane, on Thursday and Friday will precede Blinken's travels with Biden to Germany and Angola over the upcoming weekend.

Among the top agenda items is the strained relationship between the U.S. and China. Just last month, Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the U.N. General Assembly in New York. It's unclear if Blinken will conduct separate talks with Chinese representatives in Laos, where China is being represented by Premier Li Qiang.

(With inputs from agencies.)