Blinken says "regrettable" that U.S., Chinese defense chiefs did not meet

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken participates in a virtual bilateral meeting with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta during a videoconference at the State Department in Washington, U.S., April 27, 2021. REUTERS/Leah Millis/Pool/File Photo

LULEA, Sweden (Reuters) - It was "regrettable" that a possible meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu did not go ahead, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Sweden, Blinken repeated the importance of regular and open lines of communication with Beijing. "The most dangerous thing is not to communicate," he added.