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Return Sino-US ties to ‘right track’

Top Beijing diplomat’s arrival in Washington sees calls to increase dialogue, stabilize relations

By ZHAO HUANXIN in Washington and ZHANG YUNBI Zhang Minlu in New York contributed to this story. Contact the writers at huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com

China’s top envoy in the United States had his first meeting with US officials on May 25, two days after he arrived in Washington, in which both sides stressed ramping up dialogue to stabilize the relationship between the world’s top two economies.

Xie Feng, former Chinese viceminister of foreign affairs, presented a copy of his Letter of Credence to Ambassador Rufus Gifford, chief of protocol for the US Department of State, and met with US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, according to the Chinese embassy.

“Today, I welcomed the appointed Ambassador from the People’s Republic of China Xie Feng. Open dialogue is critical to managing our relationship with the PRC,” Nuland said in a social media post on May 25.

The official said the US State Department is ready to provide support for Xie to perform his duties, according to a readout released by the Chinese embassy.

Xie said the China-US relationship bears on the well-being of both peoples and the future of the world and hoped the US side will move in the same direction as China, take concrete actions to deliver on the important common understandings between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, and explore the right way to get along with each other in the new era.

“It is important to uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, enhance dialogue, manage differences and promote cooperation, so as to bring the China-US relationship back to the right track,” Xie said, according to the embassy statement.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues of common interest and

agreed to maintain close communication.

Before heading to the US, Xie had multiple rounds of talks with US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, in which they agreed to work together for the “most important bilateral relationship”.

Upon his arrival in New York on May 23, Xie told reporters that the China-US relationship is currently faced with “serious difficulties and challenges”, and that his appointment is not only an honor but an also enormous responsibility.

Xie said he expects to engage extensively with US citizens from all walks of life during his posting, while observing and learning about the country at a close distance, and exploring ways to deepen exchanges and cooperation.

“Let us work together to contribute to China-US relations with insights and actions as well as courage and grit,” he said.

Observers noted that Xie arrived in the US at a time when bilateral ties continue to suffer tension, notably around the Taiwan Strait situation.

Wu Xinbo, dean of Fudan University’s Institute of International Studies, said recently that Washington has sent some positive signals for improving political, economic and trade ties with China, yet “it remains to be seen how far and how sincerely the US will go in this regard”.

“China-US ties are still undergoing fluctuations at a low, because Washington has constantly been making problems and trouble, leading to friction and conflicts,” he said.

Wu noted that Xie “has worked on dealing with China-US ties for 30 years and has experienced both the rosy and bumpy periods of the relations … Given the complicated, strained ties, such experience will be a very important asset to his future interaction with Washington on behalf of China.”

Xie has been a key participant in and witness to recent high-level bilateral meetings between Beijing and Washington, experts noted.

Su Xiaohui, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said the comments made by Xie “reflect the great complexity of the relations and Beijing’s proactive role in shaping the relations”, and that Xie’s new posting is “part of the proactive efforts”.

Xie’s new job comes at a time when Washington “has gone to extremes recently in suppressing and coercing China”, including using the recently concluded G7 summit “as a tool for strategic competition”, Su said.

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2023-06-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://chinadaily.pressreader.com/article/281681144263885

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