Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed hope that the United States and China can address their differences in a more rational manner during a meeting with senior American lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is leading a delegation of six American officials on a visit to China, part of Washington’s efforts to ease tensions with Beijing.
During the meeting at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Wang Yi emphasized the importance of managing existing differences rationally to foster a healthy development of bilateral relations between the two countries. He also expressed the hope that the American delegation would gain a more accurate understanding of China during their visit.
In response, Schumer thanked the Chinese delegation for their hospitality and outlined several areas of “great concern” that he aims to address during his visit. These include advocating for a level playing field for American businesses and workers, holding China-based companies accountable for supplying chemicals contributing to the fentanyl crisis in the US, ensuring China does not support Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and advancing human rights.
However, Schumer also expressed disappointment with a recent statement from China’s foreign ministry regarding the escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians. He urged China to stand with Israel and condemn the attacks, as the foreign ministry’s statement did not show sympathy or support for Israel during these challenging times.
Schumer’s visit is part of ongoing efforts to improve US-China relations, with high-level American officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and climate envoy John Kerry, visiting China this year. President Joe Biden has also suggested a potential meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November to reset ties between the two nations.
This diplomatic exchange underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of US-China relations, where cooperation and contention coexist on various fronts.
