Beijing, China – China's relationship with the United States is in a "stalemate" and facing "serious difficulties," one of Beijing's top officials told the US deputy secretary of state during a visit on Monday.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng made the comments to Wendy Sherman, the highest-ranking US official to visit China since Joe Biden took office as president.

"We urge the United States to change its highly misguided mindset and dangerous policy," Xie said.

Xie said it appears a campaign is under way to bring down China.

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Some Americans portray China as an "imagined enemy," and "demonizing" China may be an attempt by the US to distract the public from domestic issues, Xie said.

Sherman is also due to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during her trip.

As a precautionary measure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the meetings are being held not in Beijing, but some 80 miles away from the Chinese capital in the eastern city of Tianjin.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are tense, with disputes ongoing over issues relating to trade, alleged hacking, human rights violations, and Hong Kong.