The world’s two largest economies’ highest-level meeting took place recently between Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and US Ambassador Nicholas Burns.
This a possible sign that Beijing will soon approve the Biden administration’s request for higher-level talks.
Chinese Foreign Minister Requests US Envoy As Conduit
During a meeting on Monday in Beijing, Qin reportedly requested that the American envoy serve as a conduit between their countries, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Qin emphasized the value of preventing accidents between China and the United States and preventing a further deterioration in Sino-American relations.
In recent months, high-level exchanges between China and the United States have deteriorated after an alleged Chinese spy balloon passed over the United States in February, prompting Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a trip to Beijing.
Since then, Beijing has obstructed Washington’s attempts to resume top-level engagements, and the two countries remain at odds over a variety of issues, including tech restrictions, Taiwan, sanctions, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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US Embassy In Beijing Yet To Respond To Qin’s Comments
Qin blamed the United States for derailing the progress made after Chinese President Xi Jinping and American President Joe Biden met in Bali last November, citing a string of blunders on both sides. A discussion of communication on the one hand, and continued repression and containment of China on the other, is incompatible, Qin said.
The United States Embassy in Beijing did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Monday in Beijing that the conversation had been a normal diplomatic meeting.
As Qin’s new position as China’s foreign minister only took effect in December, this was their first meeting since then. It occurred two weeks after Burns met with diplomat Liu Jianchao, the ministerial-level head of the Communist Party’s International Department.
This was the first known meeting between the American envoy and a senior Chinese official since mid-February.
US Climate Envoy John Kerry stated last week that Beijing has invited him to visit “in the near future” for discussions on preventing a global climate change crisis.
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