On April 22, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China from April 24 to 26, at the invitation of Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A senior official from the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry briefed the media on the upcoming visit, emphasizing its significance in implementing the common understandings reached by President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden during their meeting in San Francisco. The visit aims to maintain dialogue, manage differences, advance cooperation, and strengthen coordination on international affairs between the two nations.
Five Key Goals
The official outlined five primary objectives for Secretary Blinken’s visit:
1. Establishing the Right Perception
Emphasizing the importance of perception, the official highlighted that China and the United States should view each other as partners rather than rivals. China advocates for major countries to avoid conflict or confrontation and stresses that mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation are essential principles guiding their relationship.
2. Strengthening Dialogue
Since the San Francisco summit, both nations have engaged in important dialogues across various levels and fields, including foreign affairs, security, economy, finance, climate change, law enforcement, agriculture, and culture. The visit aims to continue this momentum, fostering open communication and understanding.
3. Effectively Managing Disagreements
Acknowledging existing disagreements, the official emphasized the need to prevent these issues from dominating bilateral relations. Key concerns include the Taiwan question, economic and trade matters, technological cooperation, and maritime issues in the South China Sea. China urges the United States to respect its sovereignty and refrain from actions that interfere in China’s internal affairs.
4. Promoting Mutually Beneficial Cooperation
The official highlighted recent progress in areas such as counternarcotics, law enforcement, science and technology, agriculture, health, and climate change. Increased direct flights, business exchanges, and cultural interactions demonstrate the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation that serves the interests of both nations.
5. Fulfilling Responsibilities as Major Countries
As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and the United States share special responsibilities for maintaining international peace and security. The official called for joint efforts in addressing global challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and emphasized China’s constructive role in seeking peaceful resolutions.
Addressing Key Issues
On the Taiwan question, the official reaffirmed that Taiwan is part of China and emphasized that it is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. China urges the United States to adhere to the one-China principle and to oppose any form of “Taiwan independence.”
The official also addressed concerns over economic, trade, and technological issues, expressing opposition to measures that curtail China’s development. China calls for fair and reasonable cooperation that benefits both nations.
Regarding human rights, the official stated that issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong are internal affairs, and the United States should not interfere under the pretext of human rights concerns.
<The upcoming visit by Secretary Blinken represents an opportunity for both nations to stabilize and strengthen their relationship, focusing on shared interests and global responsibilities. China’s outlined goals aim to guide the discussions toward constructive outcomes that foster peace, stability, and mutual respect.
Reference(s):
Chinese MOFA briefs on U.S. secretary of state's upcoming China visit
cgtn.com
