The heads of American and Chinese diplomats, Antony Blinken and Wang Yi, tried on Saturday to ease tensions between their respective countries during a meeting in Bali. The morning of discussions should be followed by a working lunch.
“In a relationship as complex and important as the one between the United States and China, there are many things to discuss,” Mr. Blinken said, as he and Mr. Wang posed in front of the flags. American and Chinese in a hotel on the Indonesian island Bali. “We look forward to a productive and constructive conversation,” he added.
‘China and the United States are two great countries. It is therefore necessary for the two countries to maintain normal exchanges, ”replied Mr. Wang. “We need to work together to ensure that this relationship continues to progress on the right path,” he added. He called for ‘mutual respect’.
The meeting between the two officials, the first since October, comes after a meeting of G20 foreign ministers the day before in Bali.
Sommet virtual Biden-Xi
As the West strives to isolate Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and the global economy is plagued by growing uncertainties, China and the United States have taken precautionary measures to prevent that their innumerable differences do not degenerate into uncontrollable conflict.
The United States will seek “to do everything possible to prevent any miscalculation that could inadvertently lead to conflict,” the top US diplomat for East Asia told reporters ahead of the meeting. East, Daniel Kristenbrink.
The meeting between Messrs. Wang and Blinken must also prepare a virtual meeting between US Presidents Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming weeks. Meetings between the two countries’ top defense, finance and national security officials have also taken place over the past two months.
/ATS