BEIJING — China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, expressed concerns about the anticipated meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President . He stated that the road ahead would not be “smooth sailing” and emphasized the need for collaboration between both sides to achieve positive outcomes, according to a statement from the foreign ministry on Sunday.
During a three-day visit to Washington, Wang Yi met with Biden, Secretary of State , and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The parties agreed to work towards a bilateral meeting at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in San Francisco in November.
In a statement released by China’s foreign ministry, Wang acknowledged the challenges on the path to the bilateral meeting and emphasized the need to actively navigate the situation, rather than relying on “autopilot.”
Wang’s visit to Washington took place amidst heightened tensions between the two countries, including disputes over U.S. export controls on advanced technology and China’s assertive actions in the East and South China seas.
The statement highlighted that despite the numerous unresolved issues, both parties recognized the importance and necessity of maintaining a dialogue between the U.S. and China.
This meeting is part of a series of high-level engagements as the two countries seek to stabilize their increasingly strained relationship amid conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
According to the foreign ministry statement, Wang also emphasized the need for the U.S. and China to “return to Bali,” referring to the previous meeting between Xi and Biden at a G20 summit last year. During that meeting, the officials discussed topics related to Taiwan, trade tensions, and cooperation on climate change, health, and food security.
Wang stressed that the two countries must “eliminate interference, overcome obstacles, enhance consensus, and achieve tangible results.”
Additionally, Wang and Biden discussed military exchanges, as well as financial, technological, and cultural cooperation between the U.S. and China, along with the ongoing crises in the Middle East and Ukraine.
