Xi, Blinken agree to stabilize US-China relations in Beijing talks

BEIJING (Reuters) – China and the United States agreed on Monday to stabilize their bitter rivalry so that it does not devolve into conflict, but failed to make any significant progress during a rare visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed “progress” after shaking hands with Blinken at the Great Hall of the People, a large venue usually reserved for greeting heads of state.

Both the US top diplomat and Xi stressed the importance of a more stable relationship, as any conflict between the world’s two largest economies would lead to global turmoil.

China has refused to accept Washington’s attempt to resume military communication channels, citing US sanctions as the obstacle. Both sides appeared steadfast in their positions on everything from Taiwan to trade, including US actions toward China’s chip industry, human rights and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden said later on Monday that he believes relations between the two countries are on the right track, and noted that progress was made during Blinken’s trip.

“We’re on the right track here,” Biden said of US-China relations. Asked by reporters during a trip to California if he felt progress had been made, he replied, “I don’t.” “You know it was made.”

In one of the most significant exchanges between the US and China since Biden took office, it was not clear how the two countries would overcome their differences. The two sides agreed to continue the diplomatic dialogue with more visits in the coming weeks and months.

goals achieved

At a press conference that concluded his two-day visit to Beijing, the first by a US secretary of state since 2018, Blinken said Washington had achieved its goals for the trip, including raising concerns directly, trying to establish channels for dialogue and exploring areas. cooperation. The flight was delayed in February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew through US airspace.

But he said progress has not been easy.

“The relationship was in a period of instability, and both sides recognized the need to work to stabilize it,” Blinken said before leaving China.

“But progress is hard. It takes time. And it’s not the product of one visit, or one trip, or one conversation. My hope and expectation is this: We’ll have better communications, better engagement going forward.”

US officials have been playing down the possibility of a major breakthrough, but hope Blinken’s visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings, including possible trips by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

It was hoped that this would pave the way for a summit between Xi and Biden later in the year.

Biden and Xi last met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia in November, and pledged more frequent contacts, though relations have deteriorated since then.

“The two sides also made progress and reached agreement on some specific issues. This is very good,” Xi told Blinken on Monday across a long table decorated with pink flowers.

Blinken responded by saying that the two countries have a responsibility to manage their relationship.

Blinken added that his meetings in Beijing, including talks with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Chen Gang, were “frank and constructive.”

It was not clear from Xi’s comments what progress he was referring to, though he did tell Blinken that China “hopes to see a sound and steady relationship between China and the United States” and believes the two countries “can overcome various difficulties,” according to a Chinese statement. . of conversations.

Xi also urged Washington not to “harm China’s legitimate rights and interests,” referring to potential flashpoints such as Taiwan, the democratic island that Beijing claims as its own.

Blinken said he made clear that the United States needed much more cooperation from China on stemming the flow of fentanyl and the two sides agreed to form a working group on the issue.

Taiwan’s core issue

The lack of open channels of communication between the two countries has sparked international tension, and Beijing’s reluctance to engage in regular military talks with Washington has alarmed China’s neighbors.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, senior foreign ministry official Yang Tao said the US sanctions are hampering progress in improving communications between the two militaries.

Chinese Defense Minister Li Changfu has been sanctioned since 2018 over the purchase of fighter jets and equipment from Russia’s main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

Asked about the specific progress made by the two sides, Yang said they agreed to prevent a downward spiral in relations. The official added that Chinese Foreign Minister Chen accepted Blinken’s request to visit the United States.

Analysts said Xi’s remarks and diplomatic dancing of the visit appeared to signal a desire for progress.

“The Chinese messages are very positive,” said Wu Xinbo, professor and director at the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.

“China has shown that it still hopes to work with the United States to stabilize and improve relations. I think that while China is not optimistic about China-US relations, it has not lost hope either.”

Beijing’s tone on Taiwan was particularly specific during Blinken’s visit.

“China has no room for compromise or concessions,” Wang said, according to the Chinese statement.

The United States has long adhered to a policy of “strategic ambiguity” over whether to respond militarily to an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing has refused to rule out.

Coverage by Humeyra Pamuk in Beijing. Additional reporting by Jason Zhieu in Shanghai, Sophie Yu, Yu Lun Tian, ​​Dominic Button and Joe Cash in Beijing, and Jenny Kao and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk, John Geddy, Doina Chiacou, and Patricia Zengerli; Editing by Simon Cameron Moore, Andrew Heavens and Lisa Shumaker

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