UPDATE 1-Pompeo visit to China kicks off with frosty exchange

A meeting of top U.S. and Chinese diplomats got off to a frosty start on Monday, with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang airing grievances amid worsening bilateral relations.

"Recently, as the U.S. side has been constantly escalating trade friction toward China, it has also adopted a series of actions on the Taiwan issue that harm China's rights, and has made groundless criticism of China's domestic and foreign policies," Wang said at a joint appearance with Pompeo.

"We believe this has been a direct attack on our mutual trust and has cast a shadow on China-U.S. relations," Wang said.

"We demand that the U.S. side stop this kind of mistaken action," he said.

Pompeo, who was briefing Wang following his visit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said: "The issues that you characterised we have a fundamental disagreement."

"We have great concerns about the actions that China has taken, and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss each of those today because this is an incredibly important relationship."

While the exchange included typical diplomatic pleasantries, and the two emphasised the need for cooperation, the remarks in front of journalists at the start of their meeting at Beijing's Diaoyutai Guest House were unusually pointed for such events.

The two openly disagreed over which side had called off a bilateral security dialogue that had been due to take place in Beijing this month.

Last week, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence intensified the U.S. pressure campaign against Beijing, going beyond the trade war by accusing China of both "malign" efforts to undermine President Donald Trump ahead of next month's congressional elections and of reckless military actions in the South China Sea. 

(With inputs from agencies.)