China-US relations: senior Beijing diplomat says he is ready to talk to Washington leaders any time
- Le Yucheng, China’s foreign vice-minister, says focus is needed to prevent US-China relationship from spiralling out of control or getting derailed
- Sanctions against Chinese officials over Hong Kong and Xinjiang are among tough moves by the US before its presidential election in November
Le Yucheng, China’s foreign vice-minister, stood “ready for talks” with his American counterparts, he said in an interview with Chinese news site Guancha.cn posted on the foreign ministry’s website on Wednesday.
Despite the appeal for talks, the Chinese official made it clear that Beijing would not “give an inch” on issues it regarded as core interests and national dignity.
Le did not mention the upcoming US presidential election, but added that “the next few months will be critical”.
“We must stay focused without being swayed by any extreme forces, keep to the right direction of the bilateral relationship, and prevent it from spiralling out of control or getting derailed.”
The Chinese diplomat also called for dialogue to resume between the two governments.
“First, keep the lines of communication open. Dialogue should not be put on hold. In particular, there should be no ‘radio silence’ between the two foreign ministries,” he said.