Rubio: US, China obliged to hold top-level dialogue

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed the importance of talks between US and Chinese leaders. This is despite differences on issues such as trade, supply chains and critical minerals.

"The United States and China are the two largest economies in the world. They also likely have the world's two most powerful militaries," Rubio said in New York. "The relationship between the United States and China will define the 21st century."

Commenting on US arms sales to Taiwan, Rubio said any decision is made in accordance with US needs.

"So anytime we do any sales, not to Taiwan, to anybody, it is always balanced against what are our own needs in different parts of the world, and to whether we can afford to sell something. Because we may need it for ourselves," he said.

Rubio also indicated that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping might have talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China in November and the G20 summit in December in the US.