Editorial | Surge in China-US diplomatic activity welcomed by world
- Foreign Minister Wang Yi has raised hopes of a meeting between countries’ presidents following talks with American envoy and counterpart Antony Blinken
If the leaders of China and the United States keep talking, it will be positive for relations currently stalled at a critical juncture. There are just two weeks for the two sides to agree on a meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden on neutral ground – the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Bali.
Until recently that prospect seemed problematic, amid worsening tensions over China’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, anger over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and a continued crackdown on tech exports aimed at containing China’s rise. Remaining cooperation, such as on climate change, had also broken down.
Without clear signals and some straight talking, resumption of constructive dialogue at the highest level seemed unlikely. In that respect Foreign Minister Wang Yi, newly elevated to the Politburo and State Council and likely to be the next chief foreign policy aide, set the ball rolling over the weekend.
He had his first official meeting with the new US ambassador to Beijing since he took up the posting in March, followed by a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The signs are good that the way is being cleared for Xi and Biden to meet, to the relief of a world all too aware of the need for the two main powers to get along.
Beijing has acknowledged that both sides have their bottom lines. Wang told US envoy Nicholas Burns that “as the two major countries, China and the United States will not be able to change each other”, and warned the US not to try to contain China.
