Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is making a visit to Washington with the aim of addressing strategic differences between the United States and China and setting the stage for a summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. This comes at a time when the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has complicated the relationship between the two superpowers, and the US is looking to China for assistance in preventing the escalation of the conflict. Although immediate breakthroughs are not expected, both sides recognize the need to prevent intense competition and conflict on various issues such as trade, Taiwan, and the South China Sea.
During Wang’s visit, he will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss ways to prevent the spread of the Middle East conflict. China, as a major oil purchaser, has the potential to influence Iran, but it remains uncertain whether Beijing will take action or adopt a more passive approach. While the US sees China’s influence over Iran as a crucial expectation, it is likely that reaching a compromise on this issue will be challenging.
China has already called for restraint and a ceasefire in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, actively working towards restoring peace in the region. Wang’s visit is part of the continuous diplomatic efforts between the two countries, following previous visits by US officials to Beijing in recent months. The main focus of the discussions will be the preparations for the meeting between Presidents Biden and Xi, scheduled to take place in November at the APEC summit in San Francisco.
With divergent economic perspectives, the US and China approach the APEC summit with different priorities. However, discussions on macroeconomic developments have been described as productive and substantive. In addition to economic matters, topics such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the need to re-establish military-to-military ties in order to avoid unintended conflicts will also be on the agenda.
In the midst of these discussions, China’s Global Times tabloid has highlighted the contradictions in the US-China relationship, accusing the US of attempting to contain China while engaging in two-faced tactics.
As Wang’s visit unfolds, it serves as a crucial stepping stone towards managing the complex dynamics between the US and China. Both countries recognize the importance of addressing their differences and finding a way to cooperate effectively, especially in light of the Middle East conflict. The world eagerly awaits the outcome of these high-level discussions, with hopes that they will pave the way for stability and peace between these two global powers.
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