When the top officials of America and China meet in Alaska, the two countries will face a new test of tense relations. Relations between the two largest economies of the world are at loggerheads, and the administration of President Joe Biden has not yet given any indication that the drastic steps taken during the rule of former President Donald Trump Are ready to pull his hands back. Neither China has given any indication to reduce the pressure.
However, the stage has been set for the first face-to-face meeting between the two countries on Thursday. Foreign Minister Antoine Blinken and National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan will meet China’s top two diplomatic state councilor Wang Yi and the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi in Anchorage, Alaska. The meeting may discuss trade and human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong, China’s western Xinjiang region, Taiwan, China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea and the global corona virus epidemic.
Agreement not expected in meeting
There is no hope of any kind of agreement in the meeting. A senior administration official said that this is actually a one-time meeting. This is not a resumption of the process of starting a dialogue. Just a day before the meeting, Blinken announced new restrictions on officials in Hong Kong over China’s crackdown on supporters of democracy. In response, China intensified its opposition to American intervention in its domestic affairs.
Will not issue ‘joint statement’
The White House does not have special expectations for the first face-to-face meeting to be held in Anchorage. Prior to the meeting, a senior administration official termed the talks as an opportunity for both sides to ‘take stock of the relationship. He said that the two sides will not issue any joint statement after the talks and there is no hope of any major announcement after the talks.
In a statement to the Chinese media on Wednesday, the Chinese ambassador to the US also asked not to have any hope from the Alaska meeting. However, he also hoped that this would pave the way for better dialogue.
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