Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Washington and Beijing to “remove disruptions and overcome obstacles” in their relationship as President Donald Trump prepares to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington next month.
Wang Pushes For More Stable US Ties
Wang made the appeal Wednesday during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue in Beijing, acknowledging that relations between the world’s two largest economies “still face various risks and challenges.”
“The two sides should implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, focus on a positive agenda, properly manage differences, remove disruptions and overcome obstacles for high-level exchanges,” Wang said, according to China’s Foreign Ministry readout. He called for “steady, healthy and sustainable development” of ties.
Perdue said both sides wanted to strengthen communication, advance cooperation and prepare for the next round of high-level interactions.
Benzinga reached out to the White House for comment on the Chinese Foreign Minister’s appeal but did not receive an immediate response.
Xi is expected to visit the White House on Sept. 24. Trump invited him during his May state visit to Beijing, when the leaders created bilateral trade and investment boards but left major disagreements over Taiwan and trade unresolved.
Trade And AI Talks Test Détente
The countries are also expected to hold their first formal AI talks under the Trump administration in September, with discussions expected to focus on risks posed by increasingly powerful frontier models.
Fresh disputes are testing that détente. Trump is considering another 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods over alleged industrial overcapacity ahead of Xi’s visit.
Iran Sanctions And Cyber Tensions Mount
Washington’s expanding Iran sanctions create another fault line. Treasury this week launched Operation Economic Outcast, targeting nearly 60 Iran-linked individuals, entities and vessels, including networks operating through China and Hong Kong.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded that “Economic warfare and maximum pressure provide no solution,” warning they would “fuel tensions and lead to risk spillover.”
Cybersecurity tensions have risen as well. The Justice Department and FBI this week disrupted a China-linked hacking operation that targeted NASA, the Federal Reserve, Energy Department and U.S. Senate networks. The DOJ identified the group as PRC state-sponsored.
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