BEIJING (AP) — The United States and China have pledged to stabilize their badly deteriorated ties during a critical visit to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi pronounced himself satisfied with progress made during talks Monday in Beijing. But Blinken says China refused to resume military-to-military communications, a U.S. priority. It remains to be seen whether the countries can resolve their most important disagreements, many of which have international implications. After meeting with Blinken, Xi said he was pleased with the outcome and said the sides agreed to resume a program of understandings he and President Joe Biden agreed to at a meeting in Bali last year.