Latest US-China talks seen as ‘progression’ of plans for Xi Jinping and Joe Biden summit
- Senior diplomats overseeing Asian affairs met in Washington on Thursday
- Analysts expect more discussions to pave the way for a Xi-Biden meeting
China’s foreign vice-minister for Asia Sun Weidong met the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, in Washington on Thursday, with the US calling the talks “candid, in-depth and constructive”.
According to the US Department of State, the two diplomats exchanged views on regional matters including the Taiwan Strait and emphasised the importance of keeping communication channels open.
Dylan Loh, an assistant professor of foreign policy at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said the meeting suggested previous talks between US and Chinese officials had “more or less achieved” what they set out to achieve – to pave the way for more dialogue.
The latest meeting followed a series of high-profile talks between the rival powers. Last month, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi held long discussions with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Malta, while Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng held a separate meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York.
Top White House officials have also visited China in recent months, including Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and climate envoy John Kerry.