China-Singapore International Watch | Getting Sino-US relations back on track requires the US side to put into action

Beijing, 6 Jun (ZXS) -- Returning Sino-US relations to the right track requires the US side to put into action

China News Agency reporter Bo Wenwen

On the evening of the 19th, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a two-day trip to Beijing. This is the highest-ranking official in the Biden administration to visit China and the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit China since October 2018. Observers here pointed out that the "unswerving" implementation of the consensus reached at the Bali meeting of the two heads of state is of great significance to promoting Sino-US relations to stop the decline and stabilize and return to the right track, and the US side should put relevant positive statements into action.

There is an opportunity for the two sides to stabilize relations

In the talks between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Blinken on the 18th, the two sides reached five "agreements". Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, believes that this reflects the common will of the two sides to stabilize the relations between the two countries, and also reflects that the United States is aware that it is also facing risks by constantly suppressing and containing China, and that it is not in its interests that the relationship between major countries is out of control. "This is an opportunity for both sides to stabilize the relationship, but it needs to be met halfway in the next stage to implement."

On June 2023, 6, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing. Image from: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

Blinken concluded at a press conference on the evening of the 19th that progress could not be made through a single visit, but "in the past two days, we have taken a positive step forward." On the 19th local time, US President Biden said in California in response to questions about Blinken's visit to China, "We are on the right path."

The Washington Post commented that Blinken's visit to China is not enough to put relations between the two countries back on track, but for the world's two largest economies and the two largest trading countries, it is crucial to resume dialogue and keep communication channels open, and "this high-level meeting between China and the United States is a good start."

Discover the "right way to get along"

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, stressed when meeting Blinken on the 19th, "We must reverse the spiral decline of Sino-US relations with an attitude of responsibility to the people, history and the world, promote the return to the track of health and stability, and jointly find the correct way for China and the United States to get along in the new era."

In Su Xiaohui's view, to explore the correct way for China and the United States to get along in the new era, the United States should uphold an objective and rational understanding of China, follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and truly implement the consensus of the Bali meeting between the two heads of state, rather than just achieve dialogue and communication in form.

Tian Feilong, associate professor at the Law School of Beihang University, believes that the US China policy should return to objective rationality, recognize China's legitimate right to follow its own development path, respect China's sovereignty and security on important core interests, especially on the Taiwan issue, and abide by the one-China principle.

Tian Feilong also said that China and the United States should strengthen exchanges and understanding in the fields of humanities, economy and trade, science and technology, and enhance trust in each other. At the same time, the rational voices of more and more people of insight in the United States need to be heard in Sino-US exchanges.

Translating "statements" into "actions"

Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out when meeting with Blinken on the 19th, "I hope that the US side will adopt a rational and pragmatic attitude, meet China halfway, work together, adhere to the consensus reached at my meeting with President Biden in Bali, and implement relevant positive statements into actions, so that Sino-US relations will stabilize and improve."

Experts interviewed noted that Qin Gang said during the talks on the 18th that the two sides should "uncompromisingly" implement the consensus of President Xi Jinping and President Biden at the Bali meeting. Su Xiaohui pointed out that the word "uncompromising" shows that the US side still lacks "sincerity" in implementing the consensus. Tian Feilong also pointed out that if the US side lacks integrity and repeatedly discounts, it will be difficult for China and the United States to establish strategic mutual trust, and it will be difficult to have substantive and sustainable cooperation on major issues of mutual concern.

On June 2023, 6, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing. Image from: Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

On the evening of the 19th, Yang Tao, director of the Department of the United States of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, introduced the relevant situation of Blinken's visit to China, saying that the two sides reached some positive consensus and achievements. The most urgent task at the moment is to truly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state at the Bali meeting.

Some analysts believe that after Blinken's visit to China, whether the United States can finally gather enough consensus and strength to implement it, truly meet China halfway, and responsibly assume the responsibility of a major country to maintain the stability of Sino-US relations and the global peace order, it still needs to continue to be carefully observed and evaluated. (End)