SINGAPORE: China is ready to hold discussions with the United States at “all levels,” Beijing’s vice president said on Wednesday ahead of an expected summit in San Francisco between leaders Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in next week.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said recent high-level meetings between Beijing and Washington were sending “positive signals” suggesting an improvement in the bilateral relations.
“We’re ready to strengthen communication and dialogue with the United States at all levels, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences and jointly address global challenges,” Han further said.
Relations between the US and China have deteriorated significantly in recent years due to various issues including export controls, human rights and national security.
However, both sides now appear willing to patch things up, with Washington sending a number of top officials to Beijing this year in an effort to strengthen communications.
US President Biden has expressed his expectation to meet with Chinese leader Xi on the sidelines of a summit in San Francisco next week for “constructive” discussions.
While Beijing is yet to confirm the meeting, Han on Wednesday reiterated Xi’s viewpoint that the question of US-China ties “bears on the future of humanity”.
“The world is big enough for the two countries to develop themselves and prosper together,” he further said.
