The US State Department has announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China for three days from Wednesday with the situation in Taiwan high on the agenda.

A senior State Department official said on Saturday that Blinken will travel to Shanghai and Beijing. He will hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and others.

Ahead of the inauguration next month of Lai Ching-te as Taiwan's president, the officials are expected to discuss the situation surrounding Taiwan.

The State Department official says Blinken will convey a message to Beijing that all countries should contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He will also urge them to avoid any action that could escalate tensions at a critical and sensitive time, with the inauguration ceremony on May 20.

Blinken is also expected to exchange views with Chinese officials on the South China Sea, where Beijing is ramping up maritime activities, as well as North Korea.

The US also plans to express its strong concern about China's assistance for Russia's defense industry in connection with the situation in Ukraine.

The US official adds that Blinken's visit to China is also aimed at maintaining dialogue between the two countries to stabilize their relations.

Blinken's trip to China will be his first since June last year.