THE IDEA TO AT LEAST STABILIZE

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND

CHINA TO AVOID CONFLICT.

A HIGH-STAKES VISIT TO STABILIZE

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND

CHINA.

SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY

BLINKEN MEETING WITH CHINA'S

PRESIDENT XI AFTER TWO INTENSE

DAYS HERE.

AFTER THAT MEETING, SECRETARY

BLINKEN SAT DOWN WITH US AND WAS

CLEAR THIS VISIT HAD TO HAPPEN.

>> WE WERE IN AN INCREASINGLY

UNSTABLE PLACE IN OUR

RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK THIS IS THE START OF THE

PROCESS TO PUT MORE STABILITY

INTO IT.

>> Reporter: WITH FRICTION ON

NEARLY EVERY FRONT INCLUDING

ESPIONAGE AND TAIWAN, U.S. AND

CHINA RELATIONS HAD BEEN IN NEAR

FREE FALL.

ADD TO IT GROWING TENSION OVER A

CHINESE SPY BASE.

>> OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT

SOMETHING NEW.

>> IS THE ADMINISTRATION

CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA MAKING IT

MORE THAN A SPY BASE?

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE CONCERNS WHEN

THEY WITH PHYSICALLY TAKING A

POSITION.

THAT COULD TURN INTO A MILITARY

BASE OF SOME KIND.

>> Reporter: CHINESE OFFICIALS

HAVE GRIEVANCES, TOO, LIKE U.S.

EXPORT BANS ON TECHNOLOGY AND

U.S. SANCTIONS ON SEVERAL SENIOR

OFFICIALS HERE, INCLUDING XI'S

MINISTER OF DEFENSE. IT IS WHY

CHINA REFUSED BLINKEN'S REQUEST

TO REOPEN MILITARY CRISIS LINES,

COMMUNICATION CUTOFF BY BEIJING

LAST YEAR, DESPITE DANGEROUSLY

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN

WARSHIPS IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT

AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVER THE

SOUTH CHINA SEA, SOMETHING WE

SAW IN FEBRUARY ONBOARD ANOTHER

U.S. NAVY PLANE INTERCEPTED BY A

CHINESE JET.

>> THAT'S THE QUICKEST PATH TO

AN INADVERTENT CONFLICT.

I CAN SAY THEY UNDERSTAND VERY

CLEARLY THE IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH

TO THIS.

I THINK IT IS PROFOUNDLY IN

THEIR INTEREST, TOO.

>> Reporter: THIS WAS THE TRIP

SECRETARY BLINKEN CALLED OFF

WHEN THAT SPY BALLOON WAS SHOT

DOWN.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT'S WATER

UNDER THE BRIDGE WITH CHINA?

HE TOLD ME, SO LONG AS IT

DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, QUOTE,

THAT CHAPTER SHOULD BE CLOSED.

THIS IS EXPECTED TO PAVE THE WAY