BEIJING: In a significant development aimed at reducing tensions between the two global powers, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US State Secretary Antony Blinken engaged in high-level talks in Beijing on Monday.
The meeting, marking the highest-level visit by a US official to China in nearly five years, yielded positive results, according to President Xi. Both President Xi and Blinken expressed their commitment to following through on the common understandings reached by Xi and US President Joe Biden during their meeting in Bali.
President Xi stated that the talks had resulted in progress and agreements on specific issues, although he did not provide further details. He expressed his hope that Secretary Blinken’s visit would contribute positively to stabilizing China-US relations, which have been strained due to various challenges and disagreements.
During the meeting, which lasted just over half an hour, Blinken and other top US officials engaged in extensive discussions with their Chinese counterparts. Prior to the meeting, Blinken and China’s foreign policy supremo Wang Yi exchanged pleasantries and discussed the critical state of China-US relations. Wang emphasized the importance of choosing dialogue and cooperation over confrontation and conflict, urging a reversal of the downward spiral in bilateral relations.
Chinese President #XiJinping met with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing on Monday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/AMHEuKDC4A
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) June 19, 2023
China Warns US Over Taiwan Issue
Notably, Wang also issued a warning regarding Taiwan, stressing that China would not compromise on the issue. The US has expressed concerns about China’s potential attempts to seize Taiwan, while reiterating its commitment to maintaining the status quo through defensive weapons sales to the island. The discussion on Taiwan remained contentious, but US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller described the overall talks as candid and productive.
The visit of Secretary Blinken is seen as a crucial opportunity to bring stability to China-US relations, even if major breakthroughs are not expected at this stage. Both countries have been grappling with disputes over trade, technology, and Taiwan, leading to heightened tensions in recent years. President Xi’s meeting with Biden in November had sparked cautious hopes for improved relations, and Blinken’s visit is viewed as a step toward fostering greater understanding and cooperation.
As Secretary Blinken prepares to depart China, he is expected to address reporters and provide further insights into the outcomes of the talks. The United States remains firm in its approach to China, maintaining a cautious balance between competition and communication to avoid the escalation of conflicts.
