US-China Tensions Peak... Yang Jiechi Visits Three European Countries

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[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] As US-China tensions reach a peak, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party in charge of diplomacy, will visit three European countries next week.

This comes right after Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, completed visits to five European countries. Amid escalating US-China tensions, it appears that senior Chinese diplomatic officials are consecutively visiting Europe to discuss cooperative relations and other matters.

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), citing sources, reported on the 28th (local time) that Yang Jiechi will visit three countries including Greece and Spain next week.

SCMP interpreted the visits of senior Chinese diplomatic officials to Europe as an effort "to reaffirm China as a strategic partner."

Earlier, Wang Yi visited five countries including Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, France, and Germany, emphasizing the ties between China and Europe.

SCMP explained that Yang Jiechi’s upcoming visit to three European countries is also part of this effort.

In particular, SCMP reported that a major purpose of Yang Jiechi’s visit is to prepare for the special video summit between President Xi Jinping and the European Union (EU) scheduled for mid-September.

Last week, Yang Jiechi visited South Korea to explain China’s position on US-China tensions. Considering that they also discussed joint responses to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and bilateral cooperation, it is expected that Yang will convey China’s stance during this European visit as well.

Mikko Huotari, director of the Mercator Institute for China Studies, a European think tank, said, "The consecutive visits to Europe by China’s Foreign Minister and Political Bureau member are unprecedented," adding, "The timing suggests it is to reaffirm Europe as a strategic partner of China."

SCMP added that Chinese state-owned investors are showing interest in the port facilities of the three countries Yang Jiechi will visit.

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