Xi Jinping tells Blinken, ‘The United States is a partner, not an enemy… ‘There are many issues that need to be resolved’

The United States and China, which are engaged in a struggle for global hegemony, appear to be tightening the reins of checks on each other in order not to lose the initiative. The United States is working with its allies to increase the level of pressure on China in the economic and security areas, and China is increasing the level of tension by working closely with China and Russia in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China next month. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized to U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who visited China on the 26th, that “the United States and China are partners, not enemies.”

According to China’s official Xinhua News Agency, President Xi said this at a meeting with Secretary Blinken and his colleagues at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, saying, “There are many issues that need to be resolved between the United States and China.” “China is happy to see a confident, open and prosperous United States,” Xi said, adding, “We hope that the United States can also view China’s development in a positive light.” President Xi also said, “Like the first button on a shirt, this is a fundamental issue that must be resolved for China-US relations to truly stabilize, develop, and move forward.” He added, “The two countries must keep their promises without saying anything else.”

On this day, the two sides also agreed to hold their first official meeting in the coming weeks to address concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI). After meeting with President Xi, Secretary Blinken told reporters, “We will share our respective views on the risks and safety concerns surrounding advanced AI and the best way to deal with it.”

President Xi sat at the head of the table and conducted the meeting as if he was presiding over the meeting, just as Secretary Blinken visited Beijing in June of last year. To the left of President Xi, the Chinese side, Wang Yi, director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs, sat on the other side of the table, while Secretary Blinken and his party sat across from him.

Before meeting with President Xi, Secretary Blinken met with Director Wang for approximately five and a half hours. The diplomatic leaders of the two countries agreed on the need to develop the U.S.-China relationship in a stable manner, but continued their war of nerves toward each other. According to Reuters, Director Wang claimed, “Negative elements in the relationship between the two countries are accumulating, China’s legitimate right to development is being unfairly suppressed,” and “China’s core interests are constantly being challenged.” “China’s demands are that we must always respect each other’s core interests consistently,” he said. “The United States should not interfere in China’s internal affairs, should not suppress China’s development, and should not interfere with China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.” “You must not step on the red line,” he emphasized. It is interpreted as a warning message to the United States regarding its intervention in the Taiwan issue and strengthening of export controls to China.

Minister Blinken said, “Active diplomacy is necessary to push forward the agenda (agreements) set by the leaders of the two countries,” and “there is no substitute for face-to-face diplomacy in order to move forward.” He continued, “We need to be as clear as possible about the areas where we have differences, at least to avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments.” Secretary Blinken also discussed with Wang the need to prevent escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, Kyodo News reported on this day that Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara plans to visit Hawaii on the 2nd to 4th of next month and participate in a meeting of defense ministers from four countries, including the United States, Australia, and the Philippines. It is reported that the ministers of the four countries will strengthen security cooperation targeting China, which is expanding its power in the South China Sea and East China. China is also strengthening its relationship with Russia in response. As President Putin announced that he will go to China next month as his first overseas visit during his five-term term, the relationship between the two countries is expected to become even closer.

< Copyright ⓒ Seoul Economic Daily, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited >