US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, the first face-to-face talks between diplomats from the two countries, the US State Department has confirmed.

Rubio arrived in Malaysia on Thursday as part of his first visit to Asia since his appointment.

The visit is intended to underscore the Trump administration's intention to refocus its attention on the Indo-Pacific region amid protracted conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, which have dominated Washington's agenda in recent years, Reuters notes.

On Friday, Rubio will attend the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, which will also be attended by Japan, China, Russia, Australia, India, the European Union, and other partners.

Rubio's talks with Wang Yi are taking place against a backdrop of escalating trade tensions. This week, China warned the US of the consequences of a possible restoration of increased tariffs on Chinese goods, which could happen as early as next month.

Beijing also threatened retaliatory measures against countries that conclude deals with Washington aimed at removing China from global supply chains. Earlier, the US announced the possibility of imposing additional 10% tariffs on countries supporting the BRICS alliance.

In a conversation with journalists, Rubio noted that during his meeting with Wang Yi, he would also raise the issue of Russia's support for China in the war in Ukraine.