China: "Pompeo-Yang Jiechi Meeting... Sincerely Implementing Joint Understanding Between Leaders"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] The United States and China held a high-level meeting for the first time since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, pledging continuous dialogue and sincere implementation of the joint understanding reached between the two heads of state.

On the 18th, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, "On the 16th and 17th (local time), U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met privately with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China responsible for foreign affairs, in Hawaii," adding, "The two countries exchanged deep views on U.S.-China relations and international and regional issues of common interest. Both sides fully expressed their positions and considered the dialogue constructive."

It further stated, "The two countries agreed to take action and sincerely implement the joint understanding achieved by their leaders. Both sides also agreed to maintain continuous contact and communication."

Earlier, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the foreign ministers of the two countries would hold a private meeting in Hawaii, focusing on whether tensions between the two countries could be eased.

The WSJ reported that the two foreign ministers had a dinner on the evening of the 16th followed by a private meeting on the morning of the 17th, and that the meeting was arranged at China's request. It also mentioned that Stephen Biegun, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, participated in the meeting, suggesting that the recently deteriorated peace issues on the Korean Peninsula might have been discussed.

While the foreign ministers of the U.S. and China are working to ease tensions through dialogue, Liu He, China's vice premier and representative for trade negotiations, emphasized the need to implement the Phase One trade agreement between the U.S. and China at a separate financial forum.

At a financial forum held in Shanghai that day, Vice Premier Liu said in his congratulatory remarks, "The Phase One trade agreement between the U.S. and China must be implemented," adding, "Conditions and atmosphere that allow implementation should be created, and interference must be excluded." Although Premier Li Keqiang mentioned the implementation of the Phase One trade agreement in a general sense during the National People's Congress work report last May, Vice Premier Liu's remarks came immediately after the dialogue between the foreign ministers of the U.S. and China, which is interpreted as expressing a willingness to improve bilateral relations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.