Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned, on Friday, during a meeting with his North American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, of the necessity of resolving the growing differences, and warned of the danger of returning to a “downward spiral” in relations between the two countries.
On his second visit to China in less than a year, the US Secretary of State said he would be “very clear and very direct” with his interlocutor, but was confident of making “some progress” in their talks in Beijing.
At the beginning of the meeting at the Diaoyutai Guesthouse, in the capital's ancient gardens, Wang said relations between the two countries had “begun to stabilize” after a meeting in November between their presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping.
“But at the same time, negative factors in the relationship are emerging and increasing,” the Chinese Foreign Minister said.
“Relations are facing all kinds of turmoil. China's legitimate development rights have been irrationally crushed and our fundamental interests are facing challenges,” he added.
He stressed, “Should China and the United States maintain the right direction to move forward toward stability or return to a downward spiral? This is a big question for our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.”
Blinken's team had expected the Secretary of State to raise a number of concerns in bilateral relations, such as China's support for Russia, the situation in Taiwan, or trade.
At the beginning of his meeting with Wang, Blinken said the two countries should be “as clear as possible about the areas where we disagree, if only to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations.”
“It is truly a shared responsibility that we have not only towards our own people, but towards people all over the world,” he said.
