China to hold talks at all levels ahead of Biden-Xi meeting

Beijing is prepared to undertake talks with the US at all levels, China’s vice president said on Wednesday, ahead of a planned summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden next week in San Francisco.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore that recent high-level meetings between Beijing and Washington were generating positive signals that relations were improving.

Han went on to say, “We’re ready to strengthen communication and dialogue with the United States at all levels, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences and jointly address global challenges”.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have reached new lows in recent years due to a variety of concerns like export controls, human rights, and national security.

But both sides look eager to mend fences, with Washington sending a number of top officials to Beijing this year in an effort to restart high-level engagement.

US President Joe Biden has stated that he intends to meet Chinese leader Xi next week on the sidelines of a meeting in San Francisco for constructive talks.

When asked if the summit would take place, China’s foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday that the two sides had agreed to meet.

At a regular press conference, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated, “At the same time, the road to San Francisco is not smooth, and we cannot be on autopilot”.

“Both sides must… truly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, eliminate interference and overcome obstacles, enhance consensus and accumulate results”, Wang Wenbin continued, referring to Xi and Biden’s meeting in Indonesia last year.

While Beijing has yet to confirm the meeting, Han underlined Xi’s view that the issue of US-China relations bears on the future of humanity on Wednesday.

“The world is big enough for the two countries to develop themselves and prosper together”, Wang Wenbin went on to say.

Also read: Terrorist strike in Pakistan’s restive northwest claims the lives of two 2 police officers