According to the statement, Fristedt said she was happy with previous cooperation outcomes and “looks forward to more cooperation in the future”.
Before Pelosi’s visit, cooperation on drug control, in particular on fentanyl, had been a key area of the relationship despite other tensions between the two countries.
Drug cooperation is also expected to be on Blinken’s agenda when he meets Chinese leaders this weekend.
The top US diplomat was originally scheduled to visit China early this year but the trip was put on hold after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down over US waters in January.
Fentanyl overdoses cause tens of thousands of deaths each year in the US, with deaths related to the drug rising from 5.7 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 21.6 in 2021, according to US data.
China had been considered the main source of illicit fentanyl entering the US until 2019, when Beijing imposed stricter export controls at the US’ request.
The US says China remains the main source for key ingredients but the final production capacity has largely moved to countries like Mexico.
Over the past year, the US had imposed multiple sanctions against Chinese entities and individuals allegedly involved in fentanyl trafficking, sanctions that China has protested against.
That followed similar sanctions introduced in April against two Chinese companies and four nationals for allegedly supplying precursor chemicals used for fentanyl production to drug cartels based in Mexico.
China had warned that “unreasonable” US sanctions could create “obstacles” for cooperation to tackle the fentanyl crisis.
