By AsiaNews/Agencies
Jun 20 2023
BEIJING (AsiaNews/Agencies) – US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken ended his visit in Beijing today, the first high-level meeting between the two countries since 2018. Originally scheduled for February, it was postponed because of the spy balloon crisis.
During his stay, Secretary Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for about half an hour. He also held talks with Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, and Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
The visit’s primary goal was to reduce tensions between the two countries. A meeting with President XI was not a given since Blinken is not a head of state. The fact that it took place at all is a clear signal of its importance for China.
After shaking hands with his US guest, Xi said that the two sides had “made progress” during the bilateral talks.
“The international community is generally concerned about the current state of China-US relations,” reads a statement issued by China’s Foreign Ministry.
“It does not want to see conflict or confrontation between China and the United States or choose sides between the two countries. It expects the two countries to coexist in peace and have friendly and cooperative relations.”
It goes on to say, “Neither side should try to shape the other side by its own will, still less deprive the other side of its legitimate right to development.”
Official statements notwithstanding, neither side has said much about the content of the talks other than acknowledging that they were “frank”.
The only certain thing is that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Giang will visit to the United States in the coming months and that the two sides want to boost air links and cultural cooperation.
Speaking to reporters, Blinken said the talks were “robust” and “constructive”.
With respect to the Ukraine-Russia war, China reiterated its position that it would not provide Russia with lethal aid to use in Ukraine, but the US warned against similar actions by Chinese private companies.
On the Taiwan issue, which is the major bone of contention between the two countries, Blinken restated the US’s longstanding one-China policy and its opposition to Taiwan’s independence, but he also warned against China’s “provocative actions” in the Strait and their possible consequences for the world economy.
In addition, he said that Washington remained “deeply concerned” about human rights abuses in China, particularly in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.
The US secretary of state also noted that the two sides discussed the issue of fentanyl, a synthetic drug that is the leading cause of death among young people in the United States. The two countries said they were willing to start a joint working group against the spread of this narcotic substance.
Blinken tried to reassure his hosts that the United States is not “trying to economically contain China” and that China’s “broad economic success” also benefits the United States. – AsiaNews
