At the end of his stay in Beijing, Anthony Blinken meets with China’s party and state leaders. The great powers are talking to each other again, but there is no sign of rapprochement. Diplomat Wang Yi sees relations with the US at a low point.
The first visit by a US secretary of state to China in five years shows that the two superpowers are willing to engage in dialogue. However, there are no signs of rapprochement in key areas of conflict. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said on Monday, after three hours of talks with his American guest Antony Blinken, that relations between the two countries were at an all-time low. The reason for this is the misperception of China by the US. However, the downward spiral in relationships must be reversed.
On Sunday, after meeting with his counterpart Qin Gang, the US Secretary of State drew a tentative positive conclusion from his trip and his ministry spoke of an “open, substantial and constructive” exchange in Beijing. According to Chinese state media, diplomat Wang urged the US to stop suppressing China’s scientific and technological development and stop interfering in the country’s internal affairs. Referring to the island of Taiwan, which China claims as its own but is supported by the US in its quest for independence, Wang said there was no room for China to compromise or compromise.
During the day, a meeting between Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping was scheduled at the last minute. It was not clear until the end if the conversation would take place. As Xi received Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Friday, the head of state and party leader would have sent a strongly negative signal had he not invited Blinken.
“Global Times”: At least keep the base for relationships
Relations between the world’s two largest economies are increasingly strained by political and economic friction. China’s state-run Global Times newspaper wrote in an editorial on Monday that while expectations of a progress on the visit are very low, there is hope that both sides can maintain some basis in their relations. Blinken’s trip was planned for February. However, he postponed it because of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over US airspace. On Monday, Blinken also wanted to meet with managers from US companies working in China, for example, in the automotive industry.
The meeting is also being followed with enthusiasm in Germany. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday night ahead of intergovernmental consultations between the two countries in Berlin on Tuesday. (APA/Portal/me)