During his three-day trip to Beijing, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his visit with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, a prominent venue near Tiananmen Square. This meeting marked a significant moment in the 45th year of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, where President Xi emphasized the potential for partnership rather than rivalry, suggesting that both nations could prosper simultaneously.
President Xi called for a positive U.S. perspective on China’s development, which he believed would stabilize relations. Blinken, addressing the media post-meeting, reiterated the U.S. desire for China’s economic growth but stressed the importance of fair and equal treatment for American workers and businesses, criticizing China’s trade practices and its impact on global markets, particularly concerning industries like solar panels and electric vehicles.
The discussions also covered broader geopolitical issues, including China’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, where Blinken expressed concerns about China’s support for Russia. Other topics included disputes over the South China Sea, stability in the Taiwan Strait, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Blinken also had a lengthy discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, emphasizing the importance of direct diplomacy to manage differences and avoid misinterpretations. Wang highlighted the challenges to China’s development posed by U.S. policies, framing the strategic choice as either advancing stability or reverting to adversarial relations.
The visit, which also included interactions with U.S. business leaders and academia in Shanghai, is part of ongoing efforts to manage the complex relationship between the two superpowers amid escalating tensions over trade, technology, regional security, and the recent U.S. legislation impacting Chinese interests, including security funding for Taiwan and potential restrictions on TikTok.
