BEIJING: China has asked the United States to take actions conducive to dialogue between the two nations, as tensions persist between the two global powers. The statement from China’s foreign ministry, released on Monday, emphasized the importance of mutual respect, peaceful co-existence, and win-win cooperation in Sino-US relations.
China’s foreign ministry’s appeal for dialogue follows recent communication between officials from both countries, which has shown signs of improvement in their strained ties. While issues like Taiwan, the origins of COVID-19, and accusations of Chinese spying have strained relations in the past, recent months have seen increased efforts at communication, albeit with occasional sparks.
Relations Between US and China
The statement from China’s foreign ministry came in response to a message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who extended well-wishes to the Chinese people ahead of Sunday’s National Day holiday. While acknowledging China’s cooperation on global challenges such as climate change, public health, counter-narcotics, and food security, Blinken’s message did not mention cooperation on technology, a sector where the US has imposed restrictions, citing concerns over national security.
The Biden administration has implemented restrictions on chip exports to China, aiming to prevent Beijing from accessing advanced technology that could be used for military advancements or human rights abuses. In response, China has accused the US of economic coercion.
Despite these challenges, hopes have been growing that recent high-level talks between the two nations could pave the way for a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. While both sides have acknowledged the difficulties, there is a shared understanding of the necessity for open lines of communication to address their differences and foster a more stable relationship on the global stage.
