Washington and Beijing appear on the brink of a new cold war
China: We have common interests with America, and a healthy climate must be sought
Anthony Blinken argued that Trump was right to take a tough stance on China.
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Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said yesterday that China and the United States have common interests and many areas of cooperation, and they should strive to develop their relationship in a healthy environment, while US foreign policy officials meet next week with their Chinese counterparts in the first meeting between The two biggest powers in the world since Joe Biden were elected president, and they pledged to be "very frank", while Washington and Beijing appeared on the brink of a new cold war.
In detail, the Chinese Prime Minister said in a press conference, at the end of the annual session of Parliament, that China hopes that relations with America will witness a healthy development, based on each side's respect for the other’s basic interests, cooperation that benefits both parties, and the non-interference of one party in the other’s internal affairs.
He added that it is inevitable that there will be differences, but what is important is how to deal with them.
"The people of China and the United States are wise and capable, and the two sides should open dialogue and communicate on the basis of respect and equality," he said.
"China and the United States have a wide range of common interests, and there are many areas in which they can cooperate," he added.
We still have to focus more on common ground, and expand our common interests. ”
Biden wants to distance himself from the "America first" approach of Republican former President Donald Trump, by strengthening cooperation with allies and focusing on multilateral diplomacy.
Next week, US foreign policy officials meet with their Chinese counterparts.
The day before yesterday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that he would stop on March 18 in Anchorage, Alaska, on his way back from his first trip abroad, which would lead him to Japan and South Korea, with the aim of strengthening US alliances in the face of China.
After the US Secretary of State described China last week as "the biggest geopolitical challenge of the 21st century", National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will join him to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and prominent Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in the largest city of Alaska bordering the Pacific Ocean. .
Blinken announced on Twitter that he wanted to focus on issues that Washington has "deep disagreements" about with Beijing.
He later explained, during a parliamentary hearing, "It is an important occasion for us to discuss in a very frank manner the many issues that raise concerns about Beijing's actions and position, which constitute a threat to the security, prosperity and values of the United States, our partners and our allies."
"We will also see if there are opportunities for cooperation," he added, stressing at the same time that dialogue after this first meeting will depend on the possibility of achieving "tangible progress" on the controversial issues.
Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting, in a statement, explaining that it was organized "at the initiative of the United States."
Blinken considered that Trump was right to take a tough stance on China, but the new democratic team wants to coordinate Washington's positions with its allies more, as well as cooperate with China on "challenges" facing the world, such as the Corona virus, and the climate.
In a speech last week, he said, "China is the only country with economic, diplomatic, military and technological power that would seriously threaten the stable and open international system."
He pledged that relations with Beijing would be a mixture between "competition when it is healthy", "cooperation when it is possible", and "hostility when it is necessary."
In an indication of his desire to address the Chinese "from a position of strength", that is, with the support of US allies, Anthony Blinken pre-empts the meeting in Alaska by visiting Tokyo and Seoul, accompanied by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, according to what the State Department announced, Wednesday.
This is their first overseas tour, and Austin will also be visiting India.
This tour will take place in the wake of a video conference that the US president will hold with the prime ministers of Australia, India and Japan, in the first-ever summit in which the Democratic President will participate in the framework of this "quadruple" alliance (Quad), which aims to establish a balance with China.
The US strategy toward North Korea, which the Biden team is revisiting, will be the focus of the talks.
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Biden wants to distance himself from the
approach «America first» pursued by
former President Donald Trump.
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