Key points
- First House visit to Beijing since 2019
- Premier Li calls visit “icebreaking trip”
- Focus on trade and military talks
- Delegation includes members from Armed Services Committee
BANGKOK: A bipartisan group of US lawmakers met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday, urging greater military-to-military dialogue during a rare congressional visit, as relations between Washington and Beijing remain strained.
This marks the first visit by members of the US House of Representatives to Beijing since 2019, and the first trip by a group of senators since 2023, reports AP News.
Premier Li welcomed the delegation, led by Representative Adam Smith, describing it as an “icebreaking trip that will further the ties between the two countries.”
“It is important for our two countries to have more exchanges and cooperation, this is not only good for our two countries but also of great significance to the world,” Li said.
Sharing a common goal
Smith, a Democrat serving on the House Armed Services Committee, noted that both sides shared a common goal for the visit.
“Certainly, trade and economy are on the top of the list … (but also) we’re very focused on our military-to-military conversations,” he said in his opening remarks. “As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I’m deeply concerned that our two militaries don’t communicate more.”
The delegation also includes Republican Michael Baumgartner of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Democrats Ro Khanna and Chrissy Houlahan, both fellow members of the House Armed Services Committee. The group is scheduled to remain in China until Thursday.
