Xi tells Blinken, "US should not harm China's interests... Respect for mutual benefits is necessary" (Comprehensive Report 2)

Xi Jinping-Blinken, Sudden Meeting
"Do Not Harm China's Legitimate Rights," Urged

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who is visiting China on the 19th, emphasizing respect for the shared interests of both countries and stressing that the United States should not harm China's rights and interests. In particular, he stated, "The success of China and the United States is an opportunity, not a threat to each other," expressing his willingness to improve relations.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Xi met with Secretary Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the same day and said, "The Chinese people, like the American people, have strong pride and confidence, and both peoples have the right to pursue a better life."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Xi Jinping: "The whole world is concerned about China-U.S. confrontation"
Blinken: "We do not seek a new Cold War"

President Xi emphasized the need to improve China-U.S. relations, stating that the international community hopes for stable relations between the two countries. He stressed, "The world as a whole needs stable China-U.S. relations, and the future and destiny of humanity depend on whether the two countries can get along well." He further explained, "The international community is concerned about the current state of China-U.S. relations, does not want the two countries to clash and confront each other, is reluctant to take sides between China and the U.S., and hopes for peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation between the two."

He added, "Competition among great powers is not in line with the trend of the times," emphasizing, "China respects the interests of the United States and will neither challenge nor replace it, and the United States should likewise respect China and not harm its legitimate rights and interests." He continued, "Neither side should shape the other according to its own will or deprive the other of its legitimate right to development."

He also stated, "China always hopes for sound and stable China-U.S. relations and believes that the two countries can overcome difficulties and find the right path based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation," urging the U.S. side to adopt a rational and pragmatic attitude and cooperate in the same direction as China.

He reiterated the need to implement the "common consensus" mentioned during his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Bali last November. He said, "We must continue to commit to the common consensus discussed with President Biden in Bali and turn positive words into actions to stabilize and improve China-U.S. relations." He also expressed hope that Secretary Blinken's current visit to China would positively contribute to stabilizing China-U.S. relations, stating, "Exchanges between countries must be based on mutual respect and sincerity."

Secretary Blinken conveyed President Biden's message that "the U.S. and China have a responsibility to manage bilateral relations responsibly," explaining, "This aligns with the interests of the United States, China, and the world." He added, "The United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not pursue regime change in China, does not oppose China through alliances, does not support Taiwan independence, and does not seek conflict with China." Furthermore, he said, "We hope to maintain communication through high-level contacts with China, manage differences responsibly, and pursue dialogue, exchanges, and cooperation." President Xi also asked Secretary Blinken to convey his regards to President Biden.

High-level officials, including U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, Wang Yi, member of the Communist Party Central Political Bureau, Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were present at the meeting, where President Xi appeared to preside over the meeting from the central seat.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Ministerial-level talks held... Will this be a turning point in bilateral relations?

Initially, the possibility of a meeting between President Xi and Secretary Blinken on this day was considered relatively low. Although President Xi met with then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his visit to China in 2018, it is uncommon for the Chinese President to personally attend to foreign ministers of other countries as a matter of protocol. Especially given the recent rapid deterioration of bilateral relations, this meeting is interpreted as a prelude to changes in China-U.S. relations.

Moreover, President Xi's remarks were noticeably more conciliatory than those of Wang Yi, whom Secretary Blinken met earlier. Wang Yi had directly called for easing sanctions on China, demanding an end to the exaggeration of the "China threat," withdrawal of illegal unilateral sanctions against China, cessation of pressure on China's scientific and technological development, and non-interference in China's internal affairs. Wang stated, "The deterioration of China-U.S. relations is rooted in the U.S.'s misperception of China, which leads to misguided China policies," adding, "To prevent further collapse and stabilize China-U.S. relations, it is paramount to genuinely implement the consensus reached by the two leaders."

Bloomberg News described President Xi's remarks as "a rare positive tone during Secretary Blinken's visit to Beijing," suggesting that it "raises expectations that bilateral relations can reach a more stable foundation." The news agency also viewed this meeting as potentially laying the groundwork for a face-to-face summit between President Xi and President Joe Biden later this year.

Wang Huiyao, chairman of the Center for China and Globalization, told the news agency, "Secretary Blinken's visit to China will act as a catalyst for more bilateral interactions between the two countries," diagnosing that "at least it has brought a period of stabilization that eases tensions in the second half of this year."

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