BEIJING: China’s Foreign Minister will pay a return tour to Washington after “constructive” discussion with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing on Sunday, the US officials said.
According to the State Department, Qin Gang agreed to pay a reciprocal visit after talks with Blinken in Beijing. The US Secretary of State invited Qin Gang, and “they agreed to plan a return trip at a mutually appropriate time”, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a rare visit to Beijing, engaged in “candid, substantive, and constructive” discussions with China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang. The high-level meeting emphasized the significance of diplomacy and the maintenance of open communication channels, according to a statement by the US State Department.
Blinken’s visit comes as both countries seek to stabilize their strained relations and find areas of potential cooperation.
According to the US State Department, Blinken held “constructive” talks with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, leading to an agreement for a reciprocal visit by Qin to Washington. The discussions, lasting over five hours, aimed to ease tensions between the two countries, with both sides emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and open communication.
During the talks, Blinken and Qin agreed on the need to increase flights between the US and China, which have been minimal due to the ongoing pandemic. While no specific number of flights was set, the decision reflects efforts to improve bilateral relations and expand cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.
However, challenges remain in the relationship, with Qin highlighting Taiwan as the “most prominent risk” in Sino-US relations. China regards Taiwan as a core interest, and its concerns regarding the island were expressed during the discussions.
The meeting between Blinken and Qin marks the highest-level trip by a US official to China in nearly five years and signals a commitment to stabilize strained relations between the two nations. Prior to the talks, US officials had tempered expectations for significant breakthroughs, given the multitude of disputes spanning trade, technology, regional security, and human rights.
Conflicts Between US and China
Contentious issues include trade conflicts, American attempts to curb China’s semiconductor industry, the status of Taiwan as a self-governed entity, and concerns regarding Beijing’s human rights record. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that Secretary Blinken raised various concerns during the discussions, while also exploring opportunities for collaboration on shared transnational issues where interests align.
During the visit, Blinken extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Qin to visit Washington, D.C., to further continue the discussions. Both sides agreed to schedule a reciprocal visit at a mutually suitable time. The two-day trip by the top American diplomat took place against the backdrop of chilly bilateral relations and follows the earlier postponement due to the discovery of a suspected spy balloon above the United States in February.
With the world’s two largest economies locked in disagreements encompassing trade, technology, and regional security, there have been cautious expressions of hope from both China and the U.S. for improved communication channels. Brendon O’Connor, a scholar at the University of Sydney, acknowledged that the U.S. faces a substantial task in repairing relations with China, which includes the need for more extensive lines of communication. While the visit by Antony Blinken is a positive step in diplomacy, O’Connor believes it is unlikely to lead to a dramatic thawing of relations.
President Joe Biden downplayed the significance of the balloon incident as Blinken departed for China, stating that he did not believe China’s leadership had prior knowledge of its whereabouts or intentions. Biden characterized it as more embarrassing than intentional. The U.S. president expressed his desire to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping once again, following their extensive discussions in November during the G20 summit in Bali. During that meeting, both leaders reached an agreement on Blinken’s visit and expressed hope for addressing their legitimate differences while exploring areas of potential cooperation.
