中文
By Imran Khalid
The ongoing developments in China-U.S. relations exemplify an encouraging shift that has been steadily building between these two global players. The visit by Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and China's foreign minister, to the United States at the invitation of U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken signifies a promising step forward. It reflects an increasing commitment on both sides to foster mutual understanding and enhance cooperation.
Furthermore, the anticipation of a potential meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden underscores the seriousness with which both sides are approaching their diplomatic interactions. A range of pressing global issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Ukraine crisis, and the simmering tensions surrounding the South China Sea were discussed during Wang's visit.
Interestingly, this visit comes amidst a period of increased interactions between China and the United States at various levels. The China-U.S. economic working group convened its inaugural virtual meeting on October 24, by the prior agreement between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing to dispatch a delegation to the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, a high-level security conference commencing on October 29, as confirmed by the organizers.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom is already on a week-long journey to China, focusing on topics such as climate change and economic collaboration. This visit follows U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's recent trips to Shanghai and Beijing earlier this month, further underscoring the increased engagement between the two nations.
Since May, we have been witnessing a discernible acceleration in the high-level exchanges between China and the United States. This accelerated pace of interaction is proving to be a stabilizing force, at least plugging the deterioration of their crucial bilateral relationship. Before the arrival of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House, various government-to-government communication channels were in place, which fostered a robust mechanism of continuous dialogue between China and the United States, encompassing diverse domains from trade to climate.
But within the first year in office, Trump suspended these channels, leaving a void and diplomatic disarray. However, with Biden in the Oval Office, some of these crucial mechanisms have been revived, rekindling a semblance of normalization in bilateral dialogue. However, the resurrected channels, while a step in the right direction, remain relatively broad in scope. They encompass a wide range of topics, but the depth of engagement and specificity of the dialogues still need to be fine-tuned.
These revived mechanisms stand as a clear affirmation of the vital need for enhanced dialogue between Beijing and Washington. This need is especially pressing in times of heightened global political uncertainty, marked by an expanding array of hotspots, spanning from Ukraine to the Middle East. While the United States appears to be ramping up the frequency of its engagements with China, signaling an anticipation of elevated bilateral communication, its underlying approach to China remains deeply entrenched in skepticism.
China has persistently urged Washington to reconsider its position on several pivotal issues, among them the repeal of supplementary tariffs levied on Chinese goods, the rescission of sanctions against Chinese enterprises, the relaxation of technological restrictions, and adherence to the one-China principle on the Taiwan question.
Amidst the uptick in bilateral exchanges, there is a reason for cautious optimism. However, the litmus test for assessing Washington's earnestness lies in its ability to address Beijing's core concerns. Wang Yi's visit carries with it the expectation of a reciprocal commitment from the United States.
It is imperative that both sides diligently work to actualize the crucial consensus that Xi and Biden struck during their last meeting. This entails a concerted effort to enhance communication and dialogue, broaden practical collaboration, adeptly manage and reduce differences, and ultimately steer the ship of bilateral relations back onto the course of robust and stable development.
Imran Khalid, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a freelance columnist on international affairs.
