US officials say that they do not expect major breakthroughs from Blinken's talks but they hope to reopen regular lines of communication to prevent mishaps from escalating into conflict.

Sunni Muslim power Saudi Arabia severed relations with Shiite-led Iran in 2016 but the two countries agreed in March to mend ties and reopen their respective embassies.

This comes as both the US and Saudi Arabia are seeking to broker a durable cease fire between Sudan's warring generals in talks in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Beijing has distanced itself from Lu Shaye's remarks while also defending its claimed neutral stance on Russia's war in Ukraine.

The visit follows the unprecedented meeting between their heads of diplomacy in China after they agreed last month to restore diplomatic ties.

Former Malaysian ambassador Dennis Ignatius also hits out at DAP, saying people will not be fooled by its defence of political appointments.

China is Singapore's largest trading partner, while the island-state is China's biggest foreign investor.

The opposition coalition demands that the prime minister disclose full details including on the cost of the official trip.

Assad has benefited from an outpouring of Arab support since devastating earthquakes hit his country and neighbouring Turkey earlier this month, helping him ease the diplomatic isolation he has faced over the conflict.

Sudan in January 2021 formally agreed to normalise relations with Israel in a quid pro quo for the US removing it from its list of 'state sponsors of terrorism', but ties were never formalised.

Iran has brutally cracked down on protests, Iranian drones have allegedly aided Russia's war in Ukraine and Tehran has accelerated its nuclear program, all of which raise the political price to giving Iran sanctions relief.

Penny Wong is expected to meet Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, the first visit by an Australian minister since 2019 and the first formal talks in Beijing between the two nations' top diplomats since 2018.