MANILA, Philippines: Beijing urged Washington on Wednesday to “respect” China’s “core interests” as well as “uphold the one-China principle” as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to visit the US, Chinese state media reported.
The reiteration of Beijing’s concerns was raised by Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a face-to-face meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Philippines.
The Chinese and US top diplomats met on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila. The Philippines is the current chair of the 11-member bloc.
“(The) US side should properly manage differences, (and) address China’s legitimate concerns,” Wang told Rubio, according to Xinhua news agency. The two sides were likely to discuss Xi’s expected visit to the US this September.
Rubio said he expects a “very positive” visit from Chinese President Xi to the US in September.
“I think President Xi will have a very positive visit when (he) comes to Washington,” Rubio told reporters in Manila, saying he and Wang had spoken at length, laying the groundwork for a fruitful trip.
While acknowledging the two countries had “significant differences”, Rubio said they would “have to work through those”.
“I think these differences will exist for the foreseeable future, and our job is to sort of manage those so that they never get out of control,” he said.
The two sides said the meeting was “practical, positive and constructive,” according to a readout by Beijing, which added that they “agreed to make good preparations for the next stage of China-US high-level exchanges.”
Rubio told reporters after the meeting with Wang that a US arms sale to Taiwan “continues to be under review.”
Trump visited China in May, where he also extended an invitation to Xi to visit this fall.
Wang stated that this year was a “big year” in China-US relations, according to the statement.
Xi and Trump “successfully held a historic meeting in Beijing, defining the constructive strategic and stable relationship between China and the US and outlining directions for joint efforts,” said Wang, noting the Beijing meeting between Chinese and US presidents.
“This is an important step forward for the two major powers in exploring the path of peaceful coexistence, which is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the common expectations of the international community,” said the Chinese foreign minister.
Rubio and Wang had held their first face-to-face meeting in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur last year, on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit. The two have held several calls while Rubio also accompanied Trump to Beijing during his state visit in May.
