In another high-level bilateral talk, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, aimed at a years-long standoff. The tension was to be reduced.
The bilateral talks were deemed “frank and productive”, and came a month after top US-China officials met in Beijing while Blinken was on a state visit.
Wang, a chief policy official of the Chinese Communist Party, attended the meeting in place of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was unable to attend the meeting citing health reasons.
Normalization efforts have been underway for months between the world’s largest economies as ties continue to slide.
A senior State Department official said “there was no breakthrough from the meeting in Jakarta,” but “that was not the intention.”
The meeting, which lasted an hour and a half – was a sequel to previous talks held in the Chinese capital, and the two top diplomats “were able to pick up where they left off, and then take the talks to the next level”. ” level of detail,” a US State Department spokesman told the press.
During the discussion, Blinken and Wang discussed differences between the two countries and areas of potential cooperation, including maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, promoting a free and rules-based international order, and combating synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl. Addressing global flows.
Other important issues discussed included the recent US government email hack, the detention of American citizens in China, and the war in Ukraine.
While top military communication channels remain deadlocked, both sides stressed the importance of open communication to address concerns.
Miller said Blinken and Wang discussed “areas of difference and potential areas of cooperation”.
“Secretary used the meeting to advance American interests and values, to directly raise concerns shared by the United States and allies and partners regarding PRC actions, and to influence the United States, the PRC, and those around Advocating for progress on international challenges facing the world,” Miller said.
Miller said, “Blinken emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and made clear to Wang that the United States, together with its allies and partners, will continue to advance our vision for a free, open, and rules-based international order.” Will carry on.” noted.
According to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang told Blinken that the “important next step” for China and the US is to take real action to get bilateral relations back on the right track.
“He urged the US to take a rational and pragmatic approach, expand diplomatic and security communication with China, and promote people-to-people exchanges.”
According to the readout, Wang said, “The US should refrain from unnecessarily interfering in China’s internal affairs, refrain from compromising China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stop stifling China’s economy, trade and technology, and Illegal and unjustified restrictions against should be removed.”
Their meeting comes days after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen underlined the importance of clear and direct communication between the US and China, saying the two countries have significant disagreements that must be addressed.
Yellen’s remarks came after 10 hours of bilateral meetings with senior Chinese officials at the conclusion of her four-day visit to Beijing.
Despite acknowledging the differences, Yellen stressed that President Joe Biden and she herself do not see the relationship as a great power struggle, believing the two countries can thrive together in the world Are.
Addressing a news conference at the US Embassy in Beijing, Yellen told reporters, “The US and China have important differences.”
