US pledges to work with China to address common challenges

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated China on its 74th National Day, pledging greater cooperation with Beijing to address “shared challenges”, amid increased high-level exchanges between the two countries in recent months.

The US is committed to working with China to address common challenges. (Source: Twitter)

In a statement posted on the US State Department website on September 30, Secretary of State Blinken emphasized: “As the United States continues to work with the international community to address the world’s most serious challenges, we welcome the People’s Republic of China’s cooperation in addressing shared challenges, including the climate crisis, public health, drug prevention, food security, and global macroeconomic stability.”

Mr Blinken said the US wished the Chinese people “peace, happiness and prosperity” in the coming year.

Beijing and Washington have conducted a series of high-level official exchanges in recent months after relations cooled earlier this year. Four top officials in President Joe Biden’s administration visited Beijing this summer: Secretary of State Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and top climate envoy John Kerry.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng also met with Secretary of State Blinken on September 18 in New York on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, Secretary of State Blinken stressed that it is good to maintain high-level cooperation between the two countries to ensure that the two sides “maintain open communication.”

Referring to Mr. Blinken's visit in June, Vice President Han Zheng said the trip meant that China and the United States were "strengthening engagement, dialogue and cooperation to stabilize bilateral relations."

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 16 and 17 in Malta, discussing issues ranging from Taiwan to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met with Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink in Washington this week. The two senior diplomats raised sensitive issues including Taiwan, the South China Sea and Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy.

Source