US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his visit to Beijing today, marking the first high-level meeting between the two countries since 2018. Originally scheduled for February, the meeting was postponed due to the spy balloon crisis.
During his visit, Secretary Blinken had a half-hour meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also held talks with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, and Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
The primary objective of the visit was to alleviate tensions between the two nations. The fact that Blinken, not being a head of state, met with President Xi signifies the meeting’s significance for China.
After exchanging greetings with his US counterpart, Xi stated that “progress” had been made during the bilateral discussions.
A statement issued by China’s Foreign Ministry acknowledges the international community’s general concern about the state of China-US relations. It emphasizes the desire to avoid conflict or confrontation between the two nations and calls for peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation.
The statement further states, “Neither side should attempt to impose its will on the other, let alone deprive the other side of its legitimate right to development.”
Both sides have not revealed much about the specific details of the talks, referring to them as “frank.”
However, it has been confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will visit the United States in the coming months, and both sides aim to enhance air links and cultural cooperation.
Blinken described the discussions as “robust” and “constructive” during his conversation with reporters.
Regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict, China reiterated its stance of not providing lethal aid to Russia for use in Ukraine. The US cautioned against similar actions by Chinese private companies.
On the contentious issue of Taiwan, Blinken reaffirmed the longstanding US policy of recognizing only one China and opposing Taiwanese independence. However, he also warned against China’s “provocative actions” in the Strait and their potential impact on the global economy.
Furthermore, Blinken expressed deep concerns about human rights abuses in China, particularly in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.
The US secretary of state mentioned that the two sides discussed the issue of fentanyl, a synthetic drug that is a leading cause of death among young Americans. Both countries expressed their willingness to establish a joint working group to combat the spread of this narcotic substance.
Blinken sought to assure his hosts that the United States is not attempting to economically contain China and acknowledged that China’s economic success also benefits the United States.
