Keystone
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his American counterpart Antony Blinken met in Beijing, kicking off talks on a range of complex issues.
On the agenda, among other items, the worsening of tensions over China’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the dossiers on the Middle East and Taiwan. Blinken is expected to spend several hours with Wang, with more closed-door meetings and a working lunch scheduled.
Opening the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Blinken expressed hope for improved relations. The Secretary of State, in the opening remarks, stated that he would be “very clear, very direct” and that he hoped “for some progress on the issues agreed upon by our presidents.” Wang, for his part, replied that China-US relations “are beginning to stabilize” after the San Francisco summit last November between presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, stressing however that he sees “at the same time that the negative factors in the report continue to increase.”
An expected face-to-face meeting between Blinken and Xi has not yet been made official. The US Secretary of State finds himself in the position of having to balance a harsh warning with requests for cooperation on the main international dossiers, while Washington threatens Beijing with sanctions for its support for Russia.
Blinken, on his second visit to the Dragon in less than a year, expressed hope for progress but said he would directly raise areas of difference, which are expected to include Russia, Taiwan and the meaty trade dossier. The two countries should be as «clear as possible about the areas in which we have differences, at least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations – said Blinken -. This is truly a shared responsibility that we have not only for our people, but for people around the world.”
Wang, however, urged that growing disagreements be addressed to avoid a “downward spiral.” According to the Foreign Minister, relations are facing all kinds of disruptions. “China’s legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed, and our fundamental interests are facing challenges,” he added.
SDA
