US and China Foreign Ministers Talk: "Bilateral Relations Must Be Restored Stably"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Amid speculation about a possible US-China summit at the upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) summit next month, the foreign ministers of the two countries reportedly held a phone call to discuss ways to restore bilateral relations.

On the 31st, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed on its website that Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a phone conversation that day. During the call, Minister Wang emphasized that "restoring China-US relations to a stable development track not only aligns with the common interests of China and the US but also meets the universal expectations of the international community."

Minister Wang further stated, "The United States must stop its methods of containment and suppression against China and must not create new obstacles in bilateral relations." He added, "The US has seriously violated free trade rules and severely damaged China's legitimate rights and interests by introducing new export control regulations against China and restricting investments in China. This must be rectified."

In response, Secretary Blinken said, "The world expects US-China cooperation," and "The US side hopes to maintain communication with China regarding US-China relations and explore the foundation of bilateral relations," according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This phone call between the two foreign ministers drew attention as it took place amid heightened interest in whether a US-China summit would be held at the G20 summit scheduled for November 15-16 in Bali, Indonesia. However, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs made no separate mention of a summit between the two leaders.

The two also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue during the call, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Minister Wang stated, "All countries should exercise restraint, make calm decisions, and strengthen diplomatic efforts to prevent the situation from worsening or becoming uncontrollable." He added, "If there is even a sliver of possibility, the door to negotiations must not be closed, and if there is a 1% chance, 100% effort must be made for peace."

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