2023-06-18 18:51:30
The Chinese foreign minister Qin Gangdeclared this Sunday during a meeting in Beijing with the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinkwhat relations between the two powers “are at their lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic relations”.
Qin noted that the state of bilateral ties “does not respond to the fundamental interests of the two peoples nor to the common expectations of the international community,” the state channel CCTV reported.
The Chinese foreign minister made “clear demands on the essential interests and major concerns of Chinaincluding the Taiwan question” to Blinken, who began a two-day visit to the Asian country today.
Qin also stated that “China’s policy towards EU. has always maintained continuity and stability, and is fundamentally guided by the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and cooperation” and that the Asian country is committed to building a “stable, predictable and constructive” relationship.
The foreign minister expressed his hope that Washington “maintains an objective and rational view of China, moves in the same direction, and handles unexpected eventualities calmly, professionally, and rationally.”
“Both parties maintained a long, frank, deep and constructive dialogue on the overall relationship between China and the United States and other important related matters,” CCTV reported in a statement posted on its social networks.
The two delegations agreed to “encourage the expansion of educational exchanges,” “actively explore the possibility of increasing passenger flights between China and the United States,” and “welcome more students, scholars, and businessmen to visit each other.” “.
For his part, Blinken invited his counterpart to visit the United Statesa country in which Qin was ambassador before being promoted to chancellor at the end of 2022, and stressed “the importance of diplomacy and keeping communication channels open in all areas to reduce the risk of miscalculation,” said the spokesman for US diplomacy, Matthew Miller.
The US foreign minister also raised “a number of issues of concern” with his Chinese counterpart, as well as “opportunities” where Washington and Beijing can cooperate.
“The Secretary made it clear that the United States will always uphold the interests and values of the American people and will work with its partners and allies to advance a vision of a free world that upholds a rules-based international order,” Miller explained.
The meeting ended this Sunday after 8:00 p.m. local time after lasting five and a half hours, after which both officials had dinner together.
On Monday, the US official could meet with the director of the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign affairs commission, Wang Yior even with the president, Xi Jinping.
Blinken arrived in Beijing this Sunday morning, becoming the highest-ranking US official to visit China since the president of the North American country, Joe Biden, began his term in 2021, a period in which bilateral relations have deepened. continued to deteriorate due to trade, geopolitical and economic tensions.
In fact, Qin and Blinken exchanged reproaches this Wednesday during a telephone conversation which marked the first high-level bilateral contact in months, in which Qin called on the United States to cease its efforts to harm sovereign security interests and Blinken urged Qin to “keep the lines of communication open” to avoid a conflict .
Blinken arrived in Beijing four months later than planned. The downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over US territory last February caused the visit that had been confirmed that same month to be canceled at the last minute.
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