U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in person in Alaska on Thursday, the first face-to-face meeting between the two countries since a Chinese balloon incursion into U.S. airspace last year.

Blinken called the incident “unacceptable” and warned that it must never happen again. During the meeting, Blinken and Wang discussed the need for improved bilateral relations between the two countries and the need for a stronger commitment to global security.

The two sides also discussed China’s recent military aggression in Ukraine, with Blinken warning Wang against aiding Russia in its invasion. Blinken urged China to use its influence to deescalate the situation in Ukraine.

The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between the two countries since the balloon incident, and it is seen as a positive step towards improving U.S.-China relations. However, the two countries still have a long way to go before they can reach an agreement on a number of issues.