China flags readiness to work with US ‘at all levels’ ahead of Apec summit

Chinese vice-president raises hopes for Xi-Biden meeting in San Francisco at leaders’ forum which starts on Saturday

Han Zheng said recent ‘positive signals’ have raised the world’s expectations of an improvement in China-US relations

Reading Time:2 minutes

A meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden at the Apec forum in San Francisco this month would be their first since the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:44pm, 8 Nov 2023Updated: 8:46pm, 8 Nov 2023

China is ready to strengthen dialogue with the United States “at all levels” to mend their relations and work together on global challenges, Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng said on Wednesday.

Han was speaking just a few days before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, where US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are expected to meet for the first time since Bali a year ago.

Beijing has not yet confirmed Xi’s attendance at Apec, but recent months have seen an increase in reciprocal high-level visits between Washington and Beijing – widely seen as laying the groundwork for a bilateral summit.

Addressing the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Han said the recent official interactions had sent out “positive signals” and raised the world’s expectations of an “improvement” in China-US relations.

“A stable and sound China-US relationship is the common expectation of people from all sectors in other countries and the international community as a whole,” he said.

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

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x