National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok on January 26 and 27 to discuss the Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi followed up last November. This meeting was part of an effort to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage competition in the relationship as directed by leaders. Mr. Sullivan emphasized that although the United States and China are in competition, both countries must prevent conflict or confrontation from occurring. The two sides discussed next steps in a number of areas of cooperation discussed at Woodside. Mr. Sullivan and Director Wang Yi acknowledged recent progress in resuming military communications and noted the importance of maintaining these channels. They also discussed next steps toward holding a U.S.-China dialogue on AI in the spring. Mr. Sullivan and Director Wang welcomed progress in counternarcotics cooperation, including the establishment of the U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group on January 30. The two sides held open, substantive and constructive discussions on global and regional issues, including those related to Russia's war on Ukraine, the Middle East, the DPRK, the South China Sea and Burma. They discussed cross-strait issues and Mr. Sullivan emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the cross-strait. The two sides committed to maintaining this strategic communication channel and continuing additional high-level diplomacy and consultations in key areas between the United States and the People's Republic of China, including through a call between President Biden and President Xi.
###