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

BEIJING, June 19 (Reuters) – China and the United States agreed on Monday to stabilize their intense rivalry from turning into a conflict, but failed to make any major breakthroughs during a rare visit to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. .

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

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

However, China refused to consider Washington’s attempt to resume military-to-military communication channels and cited US sanctions as the obstacle. The two sides appeared entrenched 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.

In one of the most significant Exchanges between the United States and China Since President Joe Biden took office, it was unclear how they would work out their differences, but they agreed to continue their diplomatic engagements with more visits in the coming weeks and months.

At a news conference concluding his two-day trip to Beijing, the first by a US secretary of state since 2018, Blinken said Washington had achieved its objectives for the trip, including raising its concerns directly, trying to establish channels for dialogue and explore areas of cooperation. The trip was postponed in February after an alleged chinese spy balloon flew over US airspace

But he said progress was not smooth.

“The relationship was at a point of instability and both parties recognized the need to work to stabilize it,” Blinken said before leaving the country.

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

US officials have downplayed the possibility of a breakthrough in the talks, but hope Blinken’s visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings in the coming months, including possible trips by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo.

It was even expected to 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 Bali, Indonesia, in November, vowing more frequent communication, though ties have since soured over Taiwan, spying allegations and other concerns.

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

Blinken responded by saying that the two countries have a responsibility to manage their relationship and that the United States was “committed to doing so.”

His meetings in BeijingTalks including with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Qin Gang were “frank and constructive,” Blinken added.

It was not clear from Xi’s comments what progress he was referring to, though he told Blinken that China “hopes to see a strong and stable relationship between China and the United States” and believes the two countries “can overcome various difficulties,” according to a report. Chinese official. reading the talks.

He also urged the United States not to “harm China’s legitimate rights and interests,” a sign of potential flashpoints like Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims as its own.

Blinken raised contentious issues including Taiwan, human rights, North Korean provocations and US concerns with Beijing’s intelligence activities in Cuba, the State Department said.

TAIWAN’S FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE

The lack of open communication channels between the two countries has caused jitters around the world, and Beijing’s reluctance to engage in regular military-to-military talks with Washington has alarmed China’s neighbors.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, senior Foreign Ministry official Yang Tao said US sanctions were blocking progress on improving military-to-military communications.

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who took office in March, has been sanctioned since 2018 for purchasing aircraft and combat equipment from Russia’s top arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

When asked what specific progress the two sides had made, Yang said they agreed to avoid a downward spiral in relations. The official added that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin had agreed to Blinken’s request to visit the United States.

Xi’s comments and the diplomatic choreography of the visit seemed to indicate a willingness to move forward, analysts said.

“The message from China has been quite positive,” said Wu Xinbo, a professor and director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.

“China has shown that it is still looking forward to working with the US to stabilize and improve relations. I believe that while China is not optimistic about Sino-US relations, it has not given up hope either.”

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

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

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

Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Beijing; Additional reporting by Jason Xue in Shanghai, Sophie Yu, Yew Lun Tian, ​​Dominique Patton, Joe Cash in Beijing, Jeanny Kao and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Written by Humeyra Pamuk, John Geddie, Doina Chiacu; Edited by Simon Cameron-Moore, Andrew Heavens and Lisa Shumaker

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.