The time has now come for appeasement between the two largest economies in the world, which have been trying for several months to resume dialogue. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo meets Monday, August 28 in Beijing with her Chinese counterpart. It is the latest visit by a senior US official, as the two world powers attempt to ease bilateral tensions.
At the beginning of the year, the overflight of American territory by a Chinese balloon, accused by Washington of being a “spy” aircraft, had stirred up tensions and led to the cancellation of a trip to Beijing by the head of American diplomacy. , Anthony Blinken.
Gina Raimondo, whose visit to China is set to last until Wednesday, is the fourth Biden administration official to visit the Asian country this year. “Welcome (…) It is a great pleasure to start this dialogue with you to coordinate in economic and trade matters”, she announced to her host, the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao.
Chinese and American flags raised in front of them, the two officials must discuss face to face around long tables, surrounded by their respective delegations, according to CCTV images. The U.S. Department of Commerce had reported that Raimondo was “looking forward to constructive discussions on the U.S.-China trade relationship, challenges facing U.S. businesses, and areas of potential cooperation.”
Hope for “in-depth discussions”
Besides Beijing, Gina Raimondo will also go to Shanghai, he said. For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that Beijing would share its concerns with the minister, “while hoping for in-depth discussions” on “the resolution of economic and trade disputes”.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent years over a myriad of topics, including trade, technology, US military support for Taiwan, Beijing’s growing presence in the South China Sea and its strong relationship with Moscow.
Among the main disagreements are the trade restrictions imposed by the United States on the export of certain American products, in particular high technology, to China. Washington considers them crucial to preserve its national security. But Beijing believes that they are mainly aimed at curbing its economic growth and development.
During a visit to Beijing in July, Janet Yellen, the American Secretary of State for the Treasury, had tried to reassure the Chinese authorities about the multiple American restrictions. US climate envoy John Kerry visited China in July.
As for the head of the American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, he had visited Beijing the previous month, the highest level visit by an American official since 2018.
