He postponed a visit to Beijing in February after a Chinese balloon was shot down over US airspace. He is also the highest-ranking US government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Photo: Reuters
Over the course of two days, he is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Qin Gang, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping. The goal of the trip is to seek to establish open and sustainable channels of communication to ensure that strategic competition between the two countries does not degenerate into conflict.
Mr Blinken’s visit is widely expected to pave the way for more bilateral meetings in the coming months, including possible visits to Beijing by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The trip could also set the stage for meetings between Mr Xi and Mr Biden at multilateral summits later this year.
Mr. Biden said Saturday that he hopes to meet with President Xi Jinping in the coming months. “Both sides recognize that we need to have high-level channels of communication,” a senior State Department official told reporters.
“We are at a critical point in the relationship, and I think it is important to minimize the risk of miscalculation, or preventing the bilateral relationship from going any lower,” the official said.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday before departing for Beijing, Mr. Blinken said his trip had three main goals: Establishing a crisis management mechanism, promoting the interests of the United States and its allies, directly discussing relevant concerns and exploring potential areas of cooperation.
Among the topics likely to be discussed is the possibility of increasing commercial flights between the two countries, a US official said, describing it as a move to strengthen bilateral ties.
Hoang Nam (according to Reuters)
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