BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has told top US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the world’s two major economies should be “partners, not rivals”, but that there were a “number of matters” to be addressed in their ties.
Holding talks Blinken in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, President Xi said the two nations had “made some positive development” since he held meeting with US President Joe Biden earlier, CCTV reported. He said that they hoped the US can also take a positive view of China’s progress and development.
Both the United States and China have said they were hoping for progress on a few smaller, pragmatic fronts, including improving communications between their militaries and easing travel between the two nations. But they remain at a standstill on fundamental strategic matters, including territorial conflicts in the South China Sea and over Taiwan and trade policies. Both sides acknowledge the risk of the relationship sliding into further conflict.
The Biden administration is deeply concerned that cheap Chinese exports are threatening United States’ jobs, and is worried about Beijing’s support of Russia in the Ukrainian war.
On the other side, Beijing has accused Washington of working to encircle Chinese interests in the Pacific.
Earlier in the day, Blinken spent over 5 hours with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, in meetings and a working lunch at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Beijing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Beijing and Washington to manage their differences and issues “responsibly” as he went on a charm offensive ahead of expected tough meetings.
