US-China Foreign Ministers Coordinate Summit... Meeting Again on the 27th (Comprehensive)

As the possibility of a summit meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden arises, the foreign ministers of the U.S. and China began talks on the 26th (local time) in Washington D.C. Both sides emphasized "constructive dialogue" ahead of the meeting, drawing attention to whether this meeting could lead to a summit between the two leaders.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister, met at the State Department building and continued their discussions over dinner. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the two ministers "discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional, and international issues, including areas of disagreement and areas for cooperation." Miller explained that Secretary Blinken affirmed that the U.S. will continue to uphold the interests and values of itself, its allies, and partner countries.

Miller introduced the meeting as "part of reciprocal visits following Secretary Blinken’s visit to Beijing in June and recent high-level talks," adding that it is "an effort to maintain open channels of communication and responsibly manage U.S.-China relations." The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that "both sides exchanged in-depth views on China-U.S. relations and common concerns in a constructive atmosphere."

Both sides announced that the two ministers would resume talks on the morning of the 27th following the meeting on the 26th. It is considered unusual for the U.S. and Chinese foreign ministers to hold talks over two consecutive days.

Secretary Blinken also expressed condolences to Wang Yi regarding the passing of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during their meeting. According to China Central Television (CCTV), former Premier Li passed away from a heart attack around 12:10 a.m. on the 27th in Shanghai.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Secretary Blinken said, "I very much look forward to constructive dialogue with Minister Wang over the next two days." Minister Wang said, "There are differences between China and the U.S., but at the same time, there are important common interests. Therefore, we must engage in dialogue and cooperation." He emphasized, "Both sides should not only resume dialogue but also engage in deep and comprehensive discussions. Through dialogue, we can foster mutual understanding, prevent misunderstandings and misjudgments, and continuously pursue mutually beneficial cooperation, thereby steering bilateral relations onto a healthy, stable, and sustainable development path."

The two are expected to discuss holding a U.S.-China summit in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for November 11-17 in San Francisco. However, they did not mention this matter in front of reporters on this day. Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden stated during a White House press briefing on the 6th that there is "a possibility" of a U.S.-China summit in November.

If President Xi visits the U.S. for this APEC meeting, it would be his first visit to the U.S. in six and a half years since April 2017. The two leaders met last November at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, but relations rapidly cooled afterward due to the reconnaissance balloon issue.

Both sides are also expected to exchange views on U.S. export controls on semiconductors to China, China’s export controls on critical minerals, and issues related to Taiwan and North Korea. They are presumed to clarify their positions and coordinate differences regarding the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, they did not publicly comment on the wars during this meeting.

On the 27th, Minister Wang is scheduled to meet Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House. The two have previously met in Vienna, Austria, in May and Malta in September. There is also a strong possibility that Wang will meet President Biden on the same day. Secretary Blinken, who visited China in June, also held talks with President Xi Jinping. However, at a regular press briefing the previous day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning neither confirmed nor denied related inquiries but said, "Regarding Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the U.S., information will be released in due course, so please stay tuned."

Meanwhile, prior to this, the U.S. government has sent high-level officials such as Secretary of State Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to China since June to open channels for dialogue.

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