Washington: The White House has announced that President Joe Biden and his counterpart from China, Xi Jinping, are scheduled to engage in a telephone conversation in the forthcoming weeks.
This anticipated call, which is expected to occur before the forthcoming US presidential elections in November, was the subject of discussion during a two-day meeting between Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser to President Biden, and Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of China, at Yanqi Lake, Beijing, from August 27 to 28.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that efforts are underway to arrange a subsequent telephone conversation between military theater commanders from both nations in the near future.
The meeting, which took place in California in November 2023, was known as the Woodside Summit.
During the discussions between Sullivan and Wang, the dialogue was characterized by its candidness, depth, and constructive nature, covering a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
Both leaders acknowledged the significance of maintaining the strategic dialogue that has been established over the past 18 months and committed to sustaining high-level diplomatic relations and engaging in continuous working-level consultations.
The conversation also addressed the progress made and the next steps required to fulfill the commitments made at the Woodside Summit, including efforts in counternarcotics, military-to-military communications, and the safety and regulation of Artificial Intelligence.
The senior diplomats from the United States and China deliberated on further measures to reduce the illicit trafficking of synthetic drugs, to continue the repatriation of undocumented migrants, and to enhance law enforcement cooperation.
They also highlighted the critical need for concrete actions to address the climate crisis and expressed openness to further discussions during John Podesta's upcoming tenure as Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy.
Sullivan underscored the United States' commitment to preventing the use of advanced US technologies for activities that could compromise national security, while ensuring that trade and investment are not unduly restricted.
In a recent meeting, the US National Security Advisor, Mr. Sullivan, engaged in discussions with the Chinese Foreign Minister, raising ongoing concerns regarding China's perceived unfair trade policies and its approach to non-market economic practices.
Mr. Sullivan reiterated the paramount importance of addressing the cases of American citizens who have been unjustly detained or subjected to exit bans in China. He also highlighted the enduring commitment of the United States to the principles of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, as articulated by the White House.
This visit marks the fifth occasion since May 2023 that the US National Security Advisor and the Chinese Foreign Minister have engaged in strategic dialogues, with this being the inaugural visit by a US National Security Advisor to China in eight years.
Mr. Sullivan emphasized the critical need to preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, while expressing concerns regarding China's support for Russia's defense industrial base and its implications for European and transatlantic security.
He reaffirmed the United States' dedication to the defense of its allies in the Indo-Pacific region and voiced apprehensions regarding Chinese actions that undermine lawful maritime operations in the South China Sea.
Additionally, the discussions covered mutual concerns regarding North Korea, Myanmar, and the West Asia region.
On August 29, Mr. Sullivan had a meeting with General Zhang Youxia, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in Beijing. During this meeting, he stressed the mutual responsibility of both nations to prevent competition from escalating into conflict or confrontation, as per a statement from the White House.
The dialogue underscored the significance of maintaining regular military-to-military communications as a cornerstone of efforts to sustain high-level diplomacy and foster open channels of communication, in alignment with the directives issued by President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the November 2023 Woodside Summit.
Sullivan and Zhang acknowledged the advancements in sustained, consistent military-military communications over the preceding ten months and intended to convene a theatre commander telephone conference in the forthcoming period, as reported by the White House.
Sullivan further emphasized the significance of cross-Strait peace and stability, the United States' dedication to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, apprehensions regarding Chinese backing for Russia's defense industrial base, the imperative to avert miscalculations and escalations in cyberspace, and the continuous endeavors to secure a ceasefire and a hostage release in Gaza.
