BEIJING, Jan 17 (Reuters) – China welcomes a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the nation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman stated at an everyday information briefing on Tuesday.
“China welcomes Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to China. Both China and the United States are in communication now over the specific arrangements,” Wang Wenbin stated, responding to a query on a U.S. media report that Blinken is visiting China on Feb. 5.
“(China) also hopes the United States will adopt a correct view of China, uphold dialogue rather than confrontation, win-win rather than zero-sum (thinking),” Wang added.
Politico reported that Blinken will meet in Beijing along with his counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, on Feb. 5-6.
Blinken’s February visit to China can be the primary by a secretary of state since October 2018 when Mike Pompeo, below the Trump administration, met then-foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing, with the 2 dignitaries exchanging pointed remarks amid an escalating commerce struggle.
China’s affirmation of the visit follows a November assembly between the American and Chinese heads of state Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in the course of the G20 summit held on the Indonesian island of Bali.
The two leaders pledged extra frequent communications at a time of simmering variations on Taiwan, human rights, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and financial points.
Both leaders had agreed that Blinken would visit China to comply with up on their discussions, based on the White House, though no particular date was talked about then.
Last month, a delegation of senior U.S. officers held talks with China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng in Langfang, a metropolis neighbouring Beijing, with a purpose to focus on Blinken’s visit, based on the U.S. State Department.
Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Tom Hogue
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