09/07/2023 14:49 (act. 09/07/2023 15:00)
Yellen ends visit to China on Sunday ©APA/AFP
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen lamented “significant disagreements” between China and the US. At the same time, she was optimistic on Sunday that her four-day trip to Beijing could help improve relations between the two world powers. “I believe my bilateral meetings … were a step forward in our efforts to put US-China relations on a more secure footing.”
The US politician made this statement at a press conference at the end of his trip to the Chinese capital. In an interview with US broadcaster CBS, she added that the visit helped to make frequent and intense contacts between the two governments possible again in the future.
In total, the 76-year-old leader has spent more than 10 hours in bilateral talks with Chinese government officials, including Premier Li Qiang, in recent days. According to media reports, his meeting with Finance Minister He Lifeng on Saturday alone lasted more than five hours, followed by a two-hour dinner.
Unsurprisingly, Yellen’s visit did not produce any substantial breakthroughs. However, the rhetoric and symbolism during the trip was comparatively positive and heartfelt.
In a first broadcast by state news agency Xinhua, the Chinese side described the talks between Yellen and her counterpart He Lifeng as constructive, intense and open. At the same time, the Chinese side also expressed its “concern about the sanctions imposed by the United States on China.”
Relations between the two world powers are currently at an all-time low. The relationship is not just strained by China’s support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war of aggression against Ukraine. On her own, Yellen pointed out in her talks that Chinese companies should absolutely avoid providing material support to Russia or helping to circumvent sanctions. Other issues causing tension are US President Joe Biden’s tough course on China, the ongoing trade war, China’s territorial claims in the South and East China Seas, and Beijing’s threats to the democratic republic. island of Taiwan.