U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday (July 22) that he discussed with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi the importance of identifying areas of cooperation to prepare for a “very positive visit” by President Xi Jinping to Washington in September.
The meeting with Wang Yi took place in Manila during the ASEAN ministerial meeting. Rubio acknowledged that significant differences remain between the two nations, but emphasized the need to manage these issues and prevent escalation.
“The work we need to do by September is to identify these areas so that we can lay the groundwork for a very positive visit… We talked a lot about this,” he told reporters. “There are areas of significant differences. Both sides recognize this. We will have to work on them, and I think these differences will exist in the near future.”
Rubio added that the U.S. will always safeguard its national interests, while China will pursue its own agenda. However, he noted that there are potential areas for cooperation between the two countries. Wang Yi did not address reporters after the meeting, and the Chinese government has not yet issued an official statement.
Temporary Trade Truce and Elections
The discussions, which lasted about 90 minutes, occurred amid a temporary trade truce between the world’s two largest economies. However, the situation could be complicated by President Donald Trump’s accusations of Chinese interference in U.S. elections, which Beijing has labeled as “pure fabrication.” Rubio stated that this issue was not brought up during his conversation with Wang Yi.
Relations between the U.S. and China have somewhat stabilized recently following a temporary trade agreement reached between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in October. The leaders met in May in Beijing, after which the Chinese side indicated that Xi Jinping plans to make a state visit to the U.S. in the fall.
Regional Issues and Relations
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed issues related to Taiwan, bilateral trade relations, and the activities of the Trade Council, according to Rubio. He stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue between the U.S. and China despite existing differences.
“It would be, frankly, reckless and irresponsible for the U.S. and China not to have relations, given the impact of our countries on the global economy and the world,” he emphasized.
In an op-ed published in Philippine media prior to the meeting, Rubio criticized Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea, stating that U.S. allies in the region face “new threats and attempts at pressure.”
Responding to a question about an incident on Monday involving China’s coast guard and Philippine Navy personnel, Rubio described it as an escalation that benefits neither side. Washington also reiterated that under the mutual defense treaty, it is obligated to support the Philippines. “We intend to fulfill our treaty obligations, and I think we have done so and will continue to do so,” he stated.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
