US Secretary of State Blinken Engages in Talks with Chinese FM, Plans Visit to Beijing
Washington: The State Department announced on Wednesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Beijing as part of the ongoing commitment to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and China. This visit follows the agreement between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali last year.
During his visit from June 16 to 21, Blinken will meet with senior officials in Beijing to discuss the responsible management of the US-China relationship. The discussions will cover various bilateral issues, global and regional matters, and the potential for cooperation on shared transnational challenges.
Blinken recently spoke with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, highlighting the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to prevent miscalculation and conflict. The Secretary of State emphasized that diplomatic engagements would be used to address areas of concern and explore areas of potential cooperation.
The decision for Blinken’s visit stems from the commitment made by President Biden and President Xi to remain engaged and avoid a drift towards conflict. The trip was initially postponed due to concerns over Chinese surveillance activities and intelligence indicating potential arms transfers to Russia. However, the visit underscores the US intention to engage with China while maintaining a vigilant approach as outlined in its national defense and security strategies.
The visit does not indicate a reset in the US-China relationship, given the larger strategic environment and the domestic political landscape in the United States. Instead, it aims to foster open communication and provide reassurance to other countries in the region that the United States is open to diplomatic engagement while remaining firm on its policies. Diplomacy involves dialogue and does not necessarily imply agreement, according to officials familiar with the matter.
