The Chinese leader, Xi Jinpingmaintained that China is willing to cooperate with the United States as both sides manage their differences and work together to respond to global challenges, raising hopes for a meeting between Xi and US President Joe Biden.
In a letter delivered at an annual dinner of the National Committee on US-China Relations in New York, Xi said that if both countries can establish the “correct” way of get along“it would be crucial for the world.”
Xi’s call for more stable bilateral relationswhich he says should be based on the principles of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation,” comes as Foreign Minister Wang Yi prepares to visit Washington this week.
Management
The trip will be the highest-level personal commitment between the countries before the expected rmeeting between Biden and Xi in San Franciscoat the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which will take place next month.
The Chinese state-controlled Global Times wrote: “Chinese observers believe Wang’s visit will pave the way for a possible meeting between the heads of the two states, but added that Washington needs to make concrete efforts to address the concerns. Beijing concerns”. A bridge and a claim in another sign of a possible thaw in relationships.
In parallel, the governor of California was warmly received by Chinese officials last Wednesday: Gavin Newsom will be in China for a week to promote greater climate cooperation. He met with Wang, who said his visit “lays a solid foundation, spreads hope and opens up the future”; and with the vice president, Han Zheng, who greeted him like a an old friend”
“The China-US relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and subnational cooperation is an indispensable part of facilitating the strong and steady growth of China-US relations. I’m sure that your trip will inject positive energy to the development of the relationship between China and the United States,” Han stressed.
Review
Tensions between the countries have risen in recent years, and attempts to repair ties were thwarted by an espionage dispute in January, when U.S. authorities shot down a balloon they claimed was a Chinese spy ship in space. American air. The Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkencanceled a visit to China in response, but met with his Chinese counterparts in the summer.
Washington’s top priority has been to ensure that intense competition between the world’s two largest economies, and their disagreements over a range of issues from trade with Taiwan to the South China Sea, does not escalate. And Chinese state media has reported that Wang hopes to discuss the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as deteriorating tensions with the Philippines over the South China Sea, at the same time.
Blinken said at the UN security council on Tuesday that he would work with Wang to prevent the war between Israel and Hamas from spreading. American officials They are interested in Beijing using its influence with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to help prevent the conflict from spreading.
Plays
Analysts understand that while China had expressed concern about Washington’s approach to the conflict, they shared a common interest in avoiding a regional war. Dalia Dassa Kaye, a senior fellow at UCLA’s Burkle Center for International Relations, said: “That could be the basis for some common ground, even if China is likely to see some benefits from the hit the United States is suffering in the region.”
However, he said that Beijing’s weight could be limited, while others questioned his willingness to use it. Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, explained that China, as a large consumer of oil, has an interest in avoiding a direct confrontation between the United States and Iran, since it would increase prices.
“Still, the Chinese are unlikely to do much diplomatic work there,” he added. “I hope they want to come to the table when the fight between Israel and Gaza is resolved, but they don’t feel much pressure to speed up the resolution.”
The bombings and the siege of Gaza by Israel in response to Hamas attacks have sparked anger in Muslim-majority countries, and Washington fears that an imminent ground offensive could trigger a broader conflict. China has repeatedly called for restraint and a ceasefire in response to the Israeli bombing of Gaza, and has stepped up its criticism of Israel.
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