Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state has said he is uncertain of how America and China will continue to co-exist "for the next half century".

Speaking during his first state visit to Beijing, Mr Tillerson said he was committed to establishing an "era of peace" with China, but was surprisingly frank in expressing his concerns about the relationship between the two super powers.

"There is a question perhaps even in the minds of the Chinese: how will the American people, the Chinese people, live with each other in this world for the next half century?" he said.