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China plans for Antony Blinken trip, urges US to ‘stick to dialogue’
- Chinese foreign ministry spokesman says Beijing is making arrangements for US secretary of state’s visit, but does not confirm dates
- Politico reports Blinken will travel in early February and is expected to push for resumption of talks suspended after Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan tour
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China’s foreign ministry says it is in talks with Washington over US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China, reportedly to be held next month.
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Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that China welcomed Blinken’s trip and was making arrangements with the US, without confirming the date.
“China always views and develops China-US relations in accordance with the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping,” Wang said.
He said Beijing hoped the US “will establish a correct understanding of China, stick to dialogue rather than confrontation, and win-win rather than zero-sum games”.
Citing a Washington-based diplomat, Politico reported on Tuesday that Blinken would travel to China and meet Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang from February 5 to 6.
The trip is a follow-up to US President Joe Biden’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Indonesia in November, during which both leaders pledged to maintain communications between their countries.
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According to the report, Blinken is expected to push for a lifting of suspensions on high-level bilateral contacts – including anti-drug initiatives and military dialogues – that Beijing imposed in August in reprisal for then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan.
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