On September 27, 2024 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon request on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Wang Yi pointed out that under the strategic guidance of the two Presidents, China-U.S. relations have, amid twists and turns, returned to Bali and reached San Francisco. Such progress is hard-won and should be cherished. The stabilization of China-U.S. relations serves the interests of the two peoples and meets the expectation of the international community. Whether or not this momentum can be sustained depends on the efforts of both sides.
“He said the United States should not always approach China with two faces: On the one hand encircling and suppressing China brazenly, and on the other hand, having dialogue and cooperation with China as if nothing is wrong. Since the United States has expressed multiple times that it has no intention to have conflict with China, then fundamentally, it needs to establish a rational perception of China, and find the right way to get along with it,” he noted
“The United States needs to carry out dialogue with respect, advance cooperation in the spirit of reciprocity, and address differences with great prudence, rather than act willfully as it sees fit from a position of strength or use previous mistakes as excuses to make more mistakes,” argued Wang Yi
Wang Yi underscored that the intensifying “Taiwan independence” activities by Lai Ching-te and others pose the greatest danger to the situation across the Taiwan Strait. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are irreconcilable. If the United States truly hopes to see peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, it should abide by the one-China principle, implement the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués, stop arming Taiwan, publicly oppose “Taiwan independence,” and support the peaceful reunification of China.
Wang Yi said that China is firmly opposed to U.S. suppression in trade and technology. National security should not be politicized, and “small yard, high fence” should not become “big yard, iron curtain.” China will never accept finger-pointing by human rights preachers, still less interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. People-to-people exchanges between the two countries are very important, and the United States should remove obstacles with real actions.
Wang Yi articulated China’s firm position on the South China Sea issue. He stressed that China remains committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation with countries directly concerned. The United States should not stir up trouble in the South China Sea, or undermine regional countries’ efforts to safeguard peace and stability there.
Wang Yi noted that China’s position on the Ukraine issue is aboveboard. It has been committed to promoting talks for peace and has been making its efforts toward peaceful settlement. The United States should stop smearing, scapegoating and arbitrarily imposing sanctions on China, and stop using this issue to create antagonism and incite camp-based confrontation.
The two sides agreed that the meeting was candid and substantive, and that China and the United States need to find a way to live alongside one another in peace in the indefinite future. The two sides will continue to implement the important common understandings of the two Presidents in San Francisco, engage in dialogue and cooperation, and properly manage differences to work toward stable, healthy and sustainable development of bilateral relations.
The two sides agreed to maintain communication on international and regional hotspot issues, and hold a new round of consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs in due course.
