China’s Wang Yi hails ‘ice-breaking’ US House delegation visit to Beijing
Foreign ministry describes talks with US bipartisan group of lawmakers as ‘candid, in-depth’ exchange of views
China and the US are not “rivals” or “enemies” but rather “partners”, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told a bipartisan group of American lawmakers on a rare visit to China.
During the meeting on Tuesday with the first US House of Representatives delegation to travel to mainland China in six years, Wang also called on Washington to treasure the “stabilising trend” in bilateral relations while upholding its “political commitments” to Beijing regarding Taiwan.
Wang described the trip by the four lawmakers – led by Adam Smith, the top Democrat and former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee – as an “ice-breaking journey”.
“Your visit to China has been a case of good things taking time – full of twists and turns – yet it has opened another window for engagement between the two countries,” the foreign ministry quoted Wang as saying.
“It is hoped that the visit will help the US understand China accurately, view China objectively, approach differences rationally, engage in friendly interactions and explore cooperation actively … contributing to … ultimately find the right way for the two great powers to coexist on this planet,” he said.