Blinken arrives in Beijing in bid to thaw frosty US-China relations | US | Information

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing amid frosty US-China relations.

Having postponed a visit in February after a suspected Chinese language spy balloon flew over American airspace, Blinken is the highest-ranking US authorities official to go to China since Joe Biden took workplace. Throughout his keep, he’s anticipated to satisfy with International Minister Qin Gang, China’s prime diplomat Wang Yi and presumably President Xi Jinping.

There’s expectation that Blinken’s go to will pave the way in which for extra bilateral conferences, together with doable journeys by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It might additionally set the stage for conferences between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later within the yr.

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Biden stated he hopes to satisfy with President Xi within the subsequent a number of months.

“There is a recognition on either side that we do have to have senior-level channels of communication,” a senior State Division official instructed reporters through the journey.

“That we’re at an vital level within the relationship the place I feel decreasing the chance of miscalculation, or as our Chinese language mates usually say, stopping the downward spiral within the relationship, is one thing that is vital.”

Ties between the international locations have deteriorated throughout the board, elevating considerations that they could someday conflict militarily over the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which China claims as its personal.

They’re additionally at odds over points starting from commerce, US efforts to carry again China’s semiconductor business and Beijing’s human rights file.

Talking at a press convention earlier than departing for Beijing, Blinken stated his journey had three major goals – establishing mechanisms for disaster administration, advancing US and allies’ pursuits and talking straight about associated considerations, and exploring areas of potential cooperation.

“If we wish to be sure that, as we do, that the competitors that now we have with China does not veer into battle, the place you begin is with speaking,” Blinken stated.

Amongst subjects more likely to be mentioned are probably growing industrial flights between the 2 international locations. Xi supplied a touch of a doable willingness to cut back tensions on Friday, saying in a gathering with Invoice Gates that the US and China can cooperate to “profit our two international locations”.

“I consider that the inspiration of Sino-US relations lies within the individuals,” Xi stated to Gates. “Beneath the present world state of affairs, we will perform numerous actions that profit our two international locations, the individuals of our international locations, and the complete human race.”

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