Two senior diplomats from the United States and China convened in Washington, engaging in a meeting characterized by the U.S. as “candid, in-depth, and constructive consultation.” According to Reuters, this meeting represents the most recent instalment in a series of discussions to preserve open lines of communication between the world’s two largest economies.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister for Asia, Sun Weidong, as confirmed by the State Department’s statement on Thursday.
The meeting, reported by Reuters, is part of a series of high-level engagements between the U.S. and China in recent months.
This diplomatic activity included visits from prominent U.S. officials, such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in August.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in New York in recent developments. At the same time, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malta.
During their meeting, both sides engaged in a candid, in-depth, and constructive consultation on regional matters, as emphasized by the State Department. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink reiterated the significance of upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, the discussions encompassed various regional
issues, including Myanmar, North Korea, and maritime concerns.
Tensions have recently marred relations between the world’s two largest economies, stemming from concerns like Taiwan, COVID-19 origins, espionage allegations, and trade disputes. High-level discussions between the two nations are a potential precursor to a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, as per the report.
